President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed Nobuhle Nkabane as South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training amid allegations that she misled Parliament over the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards.
The Presidency confirmed late Monday that Buti Manamela, who previously served as deputy minister in the same portfolio, has been appointed as her replacement.
Manamela’s promotion comes amid growing pressure on the administration to act on accountability concerns.
In a further reshuffle, Ramaphosa appointed Nomusa Dube-Ncube as Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, citing her extensive leadership experience as KwaZulu-Natal Premier and MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
Nkabane’s removal follows weeks of controversy surrounding her role in the SETA board appointment process, which allegedly involved politically connected individuals and a panel selection that bypassed standard procedures.
She had been scheduled to appear before parliament’s higher education committee but missed multiple sessions, further fuelling criticism from opposition parties and civil society.
JN/APA