SETA Scandal Forces Nkabane Out: Ramaphosa Fires Higher Education Minister Amid Mounting Pressure

Ramaphosa bows to pressure as ANC-linked appointments spark outrage

After weeks of political tension, allegations, and public outcry, President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially removed Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane as Minister of Higher Education, a move seen by many as inevitable amid the growing scandal around the Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA).

It wasn’t just opposition politicians sounding the alarm. Analysts, student groups, and civil society organizations had all grown frustrated with what they saw as a lack of accountability over the appointment of ANC-aligned individuals,  including the son of a Cabinet minister, to powerful positions on the SETA board.

A Controversial Board and Mounting Pressure

At the heart of the storm was Nkabane’s role in approving the appointments of individuals with deep political ties, including Buyambo Mantashe, son of Minister Gwede Mantashe, and Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who, ironically, has now been named Deputy Minister in Nkabane’s old department.

While Nkabane insisted the appointments were legal, critics, especially from the Democratic Alliance (DA), pointed to a lack of transparency, accusing her of misleading Parliament and concealing key information. The DA even went as far as laying criminal charges and promising to escalate the issue to the Ethics Committee.

According to political analyst Professor Theo Neethling, Ramaphosa was cornered. “The political cost of inaction was too high,” he said. “This wasn’t just about one minister. It was about credibility, especially with the budget vote looming.”

The Fall and the Fallout

Ramaphosa made the call on Monday, reshuffling his Cabinet by promoting long-serving Deputy Minister Buti Manamela to the top role and bringing in Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube as his new deputy.

But that hasn’t quelled criticism.

Manamela, who has been deputy since 2017 under multiple presidents, faces scrutiny over his role in the department’s decline. “His primary qualification seems to be that he knows the office well,” Neethling noted wryly.

Dube-Ncube’s appointment is also raising eyebrows, considering her recent controversial appointment to one of the SETA boards — the very scandal that sank Nkabane.

Opposition: “Long Overdue”

Reactions from opposition parties were swift and sharp.

The DA called the firing a win for accountability. “She was caught lying to Parliament and defending cadre deployment,” said DA MP Karabo Khakhau. “It’s a start, but far from enough.”

ActionSA wasn’t pulling punches either. “She leaves behind a R20 billion black hole at the SETAs, a dysfunctional NSFAS, and a national student housing shortage of more than 500,000 beds,” said party MPs Malebo Kobe and Thabo Malosi. “Her tenure was failure personified.”

The MK Party labeled her departure “long overdue,” while Rise Mzansi’s Songezo Sibi said Nkabane “epitomised political arrogance.”

Even Freedom Front Plus MP Wynand Boshoff, while measured, noted the timing was crucial ahead of the department’s budget vote. “Let’s hope Manamela rises to the challenge,” he said.

The ANC’s Stance: A Measured Farewell

While opposition parties were scathing, the ANC struck a more diplomatic tone.

Party spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri thanked Nkabane for her service and said the ANC was confident the new leadership would promote “access, equity, and quality in higher education.”

Behind the scenes, however, some ANC members quietly acknowledged the damage the scandal had done — particularly as the party tries to reset its image under the Government of National Unity (GNU).

More Than Just a Firing, A Warning Shot

Nkabane’s departure is more than just a Cabinet reshuffle. It’s a signal that the public and political institutions are demanding more accountability, even from within the ruling party.

Still, the question remains: Will anything really change?

With familiar faces like Manamela and Dube-Ncube now leading the same troubled department, critics worry this was more about optics than reform.

The SETA scandal was not just about who got appointed, it was about how governance is being shaped behind closed doors, and who’s benefiting from it.

For many South Africans, especially students still waiting on funding, accommodation, or basic departmental support, Nkabane’s exit is just the beginning.

And they’ll be watching what comes next very closely.

{Source: IOL}

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