Minister axed in cabinet reshuffle

IN A sudden shake up of his cabinet, President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed the controversy-plagued Nobuhle Nkabane from her position as Minister of Higher Education and Training.

- SIPHO JACK and WILLEM PHUNGULA

The change comes after ongoing scrutiny of Nkabane's decision-making and higher education policies, in light of the government's intentions to bolster that sector of education.

Nkabane's replacement is Buti Manamela, who served as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology since October 2017, and previously held the position of Deputy Minister in the Presidency from 2014 to 2017.

This move is seen as a strategic step to ensure continuity while leveraging Manamela’s experience to navigate the complexities of the higher education landscape.

To further bolster the ministry, the president appointed former KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube as the Deputy Minister.

Dube-Ncube brings a wealth of knowledge and political savvy having previously served as the MEC for Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs.

The Presidency praised Dube-Ncube's extensive credentials, highlighting her commitment to public service amidst a challenging political climate.