Crisis deepens for Minister Nkabane as calls for her resignation intensify

The South African Students Federation (SASF) has criticized Fikile Mbalula for defending Nobuhle Nkabane, accusing him of using the controversy to further his ambitions of becoming the ANC’s next president.

On Monday, the ANC’s secretary-general defended the higher education minister, urging her to uphold her integrity despite increasing calls for her resignation and criticism from opposition parties.

Several organisations, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), the South African Students Congress (SASCO), have labelled Nkabane as incompetent and called for her to step down.

Nkabane is under fire for misleading Parliament regarding 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.

Adding to the controversy, Dr Nkabane had to apologise to advocate Terry Motau for falsely claiming he chaired the panel.

Motau revealed that he had learned of his supposed appointment through social media, saying he did not participate in the process.

Mbalula dismissed the DA’s case against Nkabane as opportunistic after the party revealed that it’s being investigated by the Hawks for possible fraud and for misleading Parliament.

[WATCH] On the matters related to the Minister of Higher Education. #ThePeoplesMovement pic.twitter.com/HYqH4eeVYZ

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) July 7, 2025

SAFS leader, Keamogetswe Masike, says Mbalula’s remarks show how out of touch the ANC is with the daily struggles of students across the country.

The DA has also made serious allegations against Nkabane, claiming that her chief of staff, Nelisiwe Semane, the higher education deputy director-general of corporate services, Rhulani Ngwenya, and the chief director of SETA coordination, Mabuza Ngubane, have all denied participating in the Minister’s panel.

These revelations have intensified scrutiny around the minister.