Should Nkabane Be Fired Alone? Critics Say That Would Be Unfair

Pressure is building on President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Higher Education Minister Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, but one respected political analyst has cautioned that doing so in isolation would be both selective and unjust.

The South African Students Congress (SASCO) joined a growing list of organisations, including the Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) demanding Nkabane’s removal following mounting allegations of corruption and misgovernance in her department.

But political analyst Professor Bheki Mngomezulu believes scapegoating Nkabane while leaving others untouched raises serious questions about consistency in government accountability.

Failing Students and Favouring Comrades?

Nkabane’s woes began snowballing after a controversial list of appointees to the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards surfaced, packed with ANC loyalists and politically connected individuals. Among them was Buyambo Mantashe, son of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, and former KwaZulu-Natal premier Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube.

Critics said the list reeked of political patronage. After backlash from Parliament and student bodies, Nkabane withdrew the list, but by then, the damage was done.

SASCO President Alungile Amtshe didn’t mince words at a weekend press briefing, saying, “The crisis facing students is no accident. It is the result of poor governance in the Department of Higher Education and Training.”

Amtshe accused Nkabane’s office of everything from chronic underfunding of universities to failing to appoint a functioning NSFAS board, failures that have left students across the country without timely financial aid disbursements.

‘Selective Accountability’: The Other Ministers Under Fire

Yet as the heat intensifies around Nkabane, Mngomezulu points to what he calls “selective outrage.”

“If Ramaphosa is going to fire Nkabane for allegations, what about Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane?” he asked. “What about Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni?”

Simelane has long been linked to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal after allegedly taking out a R575,000 loan to buy a Sandton coffee shop while still mayor of Polokwane. She’s also been accused of Eskom-linked billing irregularities — allegations she has denied.

Ntshavheni, meanwhile, faces questions over R2.5 million in alleged tender fraud dating back to her time at the Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. The Hawks have confirmed an investigation, but no formal charges have been laid.

Despite this, neither minister was moved or dismissed in Ramaphosa’s recent Cabinet reshuffle. Instead, DA Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield was axed over a procedural breach, taking an overseas trip without presidential approval.

The optics haven’t gone unnoticed.

Public Reaction: Anger, Satire and Fatigue

Social media has been awash with sharp commentary, with #NkabaneMustGo trending periodically on X (formerly Twitter). But alongside calls for her resignation are questions like: “Why is Simelane still a minister?” and “Where’s the accountability across the board?”

For many South Africans, the perceived double standards are yet another reminder of a political culture where connections often seem to outweigh consequences.

The Bigger Picture: Patronage vs. Performance

This episode has once again spotlighted a systemic issue in South African governance: political appointments that serve factional interests more than functional institutions.

At stake is not just the career of one minister, but the credibility of a presidency that came to power promising clean governance.

As Prof. Mngomezulu warns, “Firing one minister while leaving others untouched weakens the president’s moral authority. It sends the message that some are untouchable.”

One Head Shouldn’t Roll Alone

While few are defending Nkabane’s recent actions, many are asking the same thing, if she goes, who else should follow?

With students still struggling, governance faltering, and corruption allegations unaddressed, the country needs more than symbolic firings. It needs a standard of accountability that’s consistent, credible, and applied across the board.

Because if cleaning house starts and ends with Nkabane, South Africa risks learning nothing and changing even less.

{Source: IOL}

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