Tough road ahead for Buti Manamela

REMOVING Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, just before National Women's Month, was poor timing. Her predecessor, Dr Blade Nzimande, whose hapless legacy on tertiary education is unfolding horribly, was undeservedly in the role for more than 15 years. Nkabane was dealt a poor hand.

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The question is, will the affable Buti Manamela, a well-liked and respected leader from the South African Communist Party, put South Africa first?

Or will he stick with the faltering party to which he is not entirely beholden? Or will he be beholden to his friends? That's some of the murmur doing the rounds.

Manamela has been Deputy Minister since 2014, so he understands the changing ANC and higher education landscape better than most. He performs well, to the extent that his former boss, Nzimande, once criticised him for gaining more publicity. To his credit, Manamela stayed silent and continued with his work.

One feels that Ramaphosa erred in not giving the Young Communist League and the African National Congress leader the job last year.

At least he managed to rectify one error.

Much depends on the broad shoulders of Manamela. He has a wide smile and oozes confidence. But what South Africa needs is for Manamela to break ranks with the ANC to ensure that the country gets a quality tertiary system.

The higher education system continues to survive, but it is broken. Universities face a variety of challenges, including funding and governance. Setas are in a mess.

The National Skills Fund has not delivered on its mandate.