Ramaphosa Boots Higher Education Minister: What’s Behind the Surprise Shake-Up?

A political storm, skipped meetings, and a rising scandal, how the SETA saga cost Nobuhle Nkabane her job

It wasn’t the kind of Monday South Africa’s Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane could have expected. With just a day to go before a high-stakes grilling in Parliament, President Cyril Ramaphosa made a bold move, he fired her.

The news dropped late on 21 July, delivered in a blunt announcement from the Presidency. But to many South Africans watching the scandal over board appointments at the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) unravel, the writing had been on the wall for weeks.

SETA Board Scandal: What Went Wrong?

The heart of the controversy lies in how the SETA boards crucial bodies that shape skills development in South Africa were constituted. Nkabane was at the centre of a storm after several politically connected figures were appointed to these boards. Critics say the process smacked of cadre deployment, with minimal transparency and plenty of red flags.

Parliamentary watchdogs weren’t impressed. Nkabane missed two previous scheduled meetings with the higher education committee, absences that added fuel to growing frustration from MPs, particularly from opposition benches.

By the time she was due to appear on Tuesday, pressure had reached boiling point. The Democratic Alliance’s Karabo Khakhau even publicly called for her dismissal, citing a “shocking lack of accountability.”

The President Steps In

Invoking Section 91(2) of the Constitution, Ramaphosa ended Nkabane’s short, controversial stint. In her place, he appointed Buti Manamela, a familiar face in the portfolio, having served as the Deputy Minister since 2014.

This wasn’t just a personnel change, it was a clear signal. Manamela’s elevation aims to steady the ship, bringing experience and continuity to a ministry rocked by public distrust and internal confusion.

Adding a new layer to the reshuffle, former KZN Premier Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube was named Deputy Minister of Higher Education, appointed under a constitutional clause that allows the president to select non-MPs for certain posts. Her background in cooperative governance could bring a fresh lens to a department under scrutiny.

Nkabane’s Farewell: Gracious, But Vague

In a public statement issued just hours after her dismissal, Nkabane struck a composed tone. She thanked Ramaphosa and the South African public for the chance to serve and reaffirmed her commitment to national development.

What she didn’t do was directly address the controversy that cost her the job.

“It has been a privilege to lead this important portfolio,” she wrote. “I remain committed to the service of our people and the advancement of our country’s development.”

Still, questions remain about the SETA board appointments, about governance in the department, and about the political pressures Ramaphosa faces heading into a delicate post-election landscape.

Local Reaction: Relief, Frustration, and Cautious Optimism

On social media, the response was swift and mixed.
“Finally!” one user on X (formerly Twitter) posted. “You can’t dodge Parliament forever.”
Another wrote, “Replacing her with Manamela? That’s not change, that’s recycling.”

Among education stakeholders, there’s cautious optimism that Manamela can bring a steadier hand, but many are demanding real accountability and reform, especially in how public appointments are handled.

A Broader Pattern?

Nkabane’s dismissal is the latest in a series of post-election reshuffles that hint at a larger pattern: Ramaphosa is tightening the reins. With coalitions forcing a more delicate balance of power and the ANC’s dominance no longer guaranteed, swift decisions like this could be the new normal.

It also puts other underperforming ministers on notice, showing that even in a bloated and often sluggish cabinet, accountability is still possible.

More Than Just a Portfolio

Higher education is about more than credentials and campuses. It shapes youth opportunity, drives job readiness, and helps South Africa compete globally. The public deserves a ministry that runs on competence, not connections.

The hope now is that Manamela and Dube-Ncube can restore credibility, and that future appointments SETA or otherwise won’t be made behind closed doors, but in service of the students and workers who need them most.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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