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From the Backbench to the Big League: Nomusa Dube-Ncube’s Comeback Stuns South African Politics

Published

2 months ago

July 22, 2025

Chiraag

Nomusa Dube-Ncube deputy minister appointment, South African Cabinet reshuffle 2025, Cyril Ramaphosa ANC decisions, Higher Education and Training portfolio, political comeback in KZN, ANC Women’s League gender equality, Joburg ETC

Just when it looked like her political story was winding down, Nomusa Dube-Ncube stepped back into the national spotlight.

In a surprise Cabinet reshuffle, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed the former KwaZulu-Natal premier as the new Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, a major comeback for a leader many thought had been pushed into political obscurity.

From Premier to Political Wilderness

Nomusa Dube-Ncube’s journey has been anything but smooth. Once the first woman to serve as KwaZulu-Natal’s Premier, her political fortunes took a knock after internal party shifts in 2023 saw her placed 31st on the ANC’s provincial legislature list, far from the top ranks typically considered for MEC or Cabinet posts.

Worse, she wasn’t even on the ANC’s national list, which meant Parliament, at best, would have only offered her a backbencher seat.

Behind the scenes, power struggles within the ANC’s KwaZulu-Natal branch, particularly under the leadership of Siboniso Duma and Bheki Mtolo, seemed to further distance her from influence. Public criticism mounted when Duma, not Dube-Ncube, stood alongside the Springboks to hoist the Webb Ellis Cup in Durban, despite her being the sitting premier at the time.

That moment sparked outrage from the ANC Women’s League, which blasted the act as a slight against gender equality and leadership integrity. Their statement called it a “regrettable departure” from the ANC’s values of non-sexism, signalling a turning point in the way Dube-Ncube’s sidelining was perceived.

The Reshuffle That Changed Everything

Fast forward to 2025. With Dr Nobuhle Nkabane removed as Minister of Higher Education and Buti Manamela elevated to the full ministerial role, Ramaphosa looked beyond the existing National Assembly ranks for a fresh deputy. Enter Dube-Ncube.

Her appointment was not only a vote of confidence in her vast experience, having served as MEC in multiple departments, but also a strategic recalibration by the national ANC leadership. In the months leading up to this, Duma and Mtolo were removed from their provincial positions, and Dube-Ncube was reinstated as deputy coordinator of the reconstituted provincial task team.

The message from Luthuli House was clear: a new chapter had begun.

More Than a Title

Her return has been described as one of the most unexpected and earned comebacks in recent South African politics. While she was initially nominated to chair one of the SETA boards, that appointment was withdrawn amid controversy surrounding Dr Nkabane. But the deputy ministerial role marks something far more substantial.

It’s not just about returning to public office. It’s about political survival, institutional trust, and reclaiming relevance after being quietly benched.

Public Reaction: “A Political Resurrection”

Online, many South Africans have hailed her appointment as a moment of justice and political maturity.

“She’s back. And it’s about time,”
one X (formerly Twitter) user posted.

Others applauded Ramaphosa’s decision to elevate someone with both administrative experience and a history of perseverance.

“You can’t keep real leadership buried forever,”
another wrote.

What Comes Next?

As Dube-Ncube steps into her new national role, she carries both the weight of expectations and the scars of political turbulence. Her supporters see her as a steadying force in a department that has seen its share of controversy. Her critics, if any remain vocal, will be watching her performance closely.

But one thing is clear: Nomusa Dube-Ncube is no longer sitting quietly in the back row. She is back where she belongs, at the table.