Nkabane unfazed as calls mount for her sacking

June 30, 2025 107

Higher Education Minister, Nobuhle Nkabane, says she is unbothered by calls for her removal from office.

Nkabane is under fire for lying to Parliament over the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) advisory panel, which had appointed people linked to the ANC as the organisation’s board members.

The controversial appointments included ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe’s son, Buyambo, ANC officials in KZN Nomusa Dube-Ncube and Mike Mabuyakhulu.

Dr Nkabane ended up having to apologise to advocate, Terry Motau, for wrongfully saying he chaired the panel, which she had claimed was independent.

The apology came after Motau distanced himself from the process, saying he only found out about his alleged involvement in the process on social media.

Several organisations, including the DA, the EFF, the South African Students Congress (SASCO) and South African Student Federation (SASF), want her out.

The student organisation say she’s displayed incompetence since she assumed office.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN STUDENTS’ FEDERATION (SASF) CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, DR. NOBUHLE NKABANE. #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/AwrG7O3BYl

— South African Students Federation ( SASF ) (@SouthSasf2110) June 30, 2025

SASCO’s Alungile Kamtshe says the Minister has undermined public intelligence in her conduct.

The DA says it will be laying criminal charges against her in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The party has also vowed to vote against upcoming departmental budget votes for departments headed by Thembi Simelane, Nobuhle Nkabane, and other ANC ministers accused of corruption.

The move is in protest over the sacking of a DA MP, Andrew Whitfield, from his portfolio as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry.

DA Spokesperson, Willie Aucamp, says Nkabane cannot be trusted.

Nkabane landed in hot water after some Members of Parliament (MP) flagged the SETA controversial appointments, which she reversed amid backlash.

Despite the odds stacked against her, Nkabane is adamant that she is fit for the job.

🇿🇦 Good morning, RSA. Let’s sign this petition to get rid of Nkabane at https://t.co/hB8rcqe2jF https://t.co/ea7CNCatJp

— Karabo Khakhau MP (@KaraboKhakhau) June 30, 2025

None of Nobuhle Nkabane, Thembi Simelane, and Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is going to get fired from Ramaposer’s cabinet because ANC cadres all have some serious dirt on one another. It was so easy for Cyril to fire Andrew Whitfield because he didn’t have any dirt on any ANC bigwigs.

— 𝐂𝐨𝐧-𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 (@ConTesterX) June 30, 2025

@MbalulaFikile the minister of higher education Dr Nobuhle Nkabane must be FORCED to resign, failing to resign, @MYANC must recall her , after all she’s an ANC deployee.

— MakeWillie (@wills071) June 30, 2025

DA is such a Childish and Confused Party. So the sacking of their Deputy Minister made them realise that Paul Mashatile, Nobuhle Nkabane, etc are not fit to be Ministers. In short if the President did not fire the DepMin the said Ministers and DP would be fit in their Positions

— JMotlh (@Jmotlhamare) June 30, 2025