DA Claims Victory As Ramaphosa Fires Higher Education Minister

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed Nobuhle Nkabane from her position as Minister of Higher Education. Buti Manamela, one of her former deputies, has been appointed to the ministerial post.

Former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube was named deputy minister of higher education.

Nkabane’s dismissal follows ongoing controversy surrounding appointments to the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) boards, where several people with ties to the African National Congress (ANC) were reportedly given posts.

Her removal also comes just a day before she was expected to appear before Parliament’s higher education committee to account for the board appointment process. She had previously missed two committee meetings.

In a statement issued Monday evening, Nkabane confirmed her departure and thanked President Ramaphosa for the opportunity to serve in the role.

She described her time as minister as a privilege and reaffirmed her commitment to national development and public service.

Earlier on Monday, Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament Karabo Khakhau had called for Nkabane’s removal.

The DA has hailed the removal of Nkabane from her post as Minister of Higher Education as a major victory in the party’s ongoing fight against what it terms ANC corruption and cadre deployment.

In a strongly statement issued by DA National Spokesperson Karabo Khakhau on Monday night, the party said Nkabane’s exit from Cabinet followed sustained pressure and accountability efforts by the DA.

The party accused the former minister of misleading Parliament to conceal cadre deployment within the SETA board appointment process.

The DA described her departure as a symbolic and significant step in the broader effort to root out corruption and political interference in public administration.

It also framed the development as a sign that its oversight role within the Government of National Unity (GNU) is beginning to yield tangible results.

The party said the dismissal should serve as a message that unethical behaviour within government will not be tolerated, and called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to continue removing people implicated in wrongdoing from leadership positions.

While welcoming the move, the DA stressed that Nkabane’s removal should not be viewed as an end in itself but rather the beginning of a much-needed clean-up within the ANC ranks.

The party said more work remains to be done to restore integrity to government and hold those in power accountable.