DA Backs Budget After Nkabane’s Sacking, MK Party Cries Foul

What looked like a looming budget showdown in Parliament has shifted gears dramatically, thanks to one ministerial dismissal and a sharp pivot from the Democratic Alliance (DA).

The DA announced it would now back the 2025/26 Appropriation Bill, reversing its earlier threats to withhold support. This comes just days after President Cyril Ramaphosa fired former Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane following a scandal over her misleading claims about the SETA board appointments.

But while the DA is calling it a victory for accountability, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is calling it what they see as political theatre. Their verdict? The firing wasn’t about integrity, but strategy.

Parliament’s Final Budget Debate Hits Peak Drama

Taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, Tuesday’s National Assembly session is no ordinary sitting. On the agenda: debating and voting on the Appropriation Bill, the final legislative hurdle before the national budget becomes law.

This bill allocates funding to every government department. It’s essentially South Africa’s financial lifeblood for the next year, and it needs a simple majority (201 out of 400 MPs) to pass.

With the ANC holding only 159 seats, support from coalition partners like the DA has become critical.

From Threats to Support: DA’s Conditions Were Met

For weeks, the DA had taken a firm stance: no clean-up in Cabinet, no budget support. The party accused Nkabane of lying to Parliament and manipulating the appointment process for SETA board chairpersons.

When it was revealed that the “independent panel” Nkabane claimed had advised her didn’t actually exist, the DA went further, filing criminal charges and reporting her to Parliament’s Ethics Committee.

Her sacking, they say, shows pressure works.

“This is the crucial first step in holding compromised ministers accountable,” the DA said in a statement.
“The ANC must understand it no longer governs alone. Accountability in a coalition is not optional.”

They’ve now agreed to support not only the Higher Education budget but also the budgets for Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni and Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, despite earlier misgivings.

MK Party: ‘We See Through the Game’

But MK Party deputy leader Dr John Hlophe isn’t buying any of it. For him, the timing of Nkabane’s dismissal, just before the budget vote is too convenient.

“He’s doing that to get the DA’s vote,” Hlophe told reporters in Cape Town.
“This is not about ethics or governance. It’s about securing the numbers.”

Hlophe said the MK Party will vote against the Appropriation Bill, accusing Ramaphosa of playing political chess rather than leading with principle.

What Really Brought Nkabane Down?

Nkabane’s fall from grace traces back to her claims about using an “independent panel” to appoint 21 SETA board chairs. She named Advocate Terry Motau as the chair and listed her own staff as panel members.

But Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education heard testimony that no panel ever met, advised, or existed. Every supposed panel member, including Motau denied involvement.

Had Nkabane simply admitted she made the appointments herself (which the law allows), this saga might have fizzled quietly. Instead, it escalated into a national controversy.

Ramaphosa has since named Buti Manamela Nkabane’s former deputy, as the new Higher Education Minister. Former KZN Premier Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube has been appointed as his deputy.

Why This Budget Vote Matters

This year’s budget is being debated under South Africa’s first coalition government since 1994, a new political reality that demands constant negotiation. The Appropriation Bill isn’t just about funding—it’s a test of how power is shared.

Public confidence in Parliament has been shaky, and many voters are watching closely to see if this GNU coalition can actually function.

Public Reactions: Mixed Feelings and Raised Eyebrows

On social media, reactions have been split. Some South Africans welcomed Nkabane’s dismissal as a rare example of consequences in government, while others echoed MK’s skepticism.

“We’re just glad someone got fired for once,” wrote one user on X (formerly Twitter).
“But don’t mistake political survival for principle,” posted another.

One Down, Many More to Go?

The DA’s change of heart on the budget might signal a new era of conditional cooperation in Parliament, where support has to be earned, not assumed.

But with several ministers still facing serious allegations, the DA says this is only the beginning.

“If Ramaphosa is serious about restoring public trust, he must act decisively and consistently, not just when it’s politically convenient,” the party warned.

For now, the Appropriation Bill seems poised to pass. But the fight over integrity in Cabinet is far from over.

{Source: IOL}

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