Pressured Ramaphosa fired Nkabane to secure Appropriation Bill

DA had threatened to withhold its support for the budget

- MASHUDU SADIKE

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa was compelled to yield to the DA's pressure to dismiss Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane to secure the Appropriation Bill's passage today.

Ramaphosa’s move comes ahead of the National Assembly’s vote on the Appropriation Bill, which allocates funding to each national department.

The DA had threatened to withhold support for Nkabane’s departmental budget following allegations of misconduct and misleading Parliament regarding appointments to Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards.

Following Nkabane’ dismissal, the DA’s spokesperson, Willie Aucamp, confirmed yesterday that they would vote with the ANC in every department, paving the way for the Appropriation Bill to pass without major challenges.

The ANC, as well as ministers in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, and Human Settlements, Thembi Simelane, have found temporary relief after Nkabane’ axing.

This follows the DA’s confirmation that the party would vote with them for their respective departments but would pursue them over corruption allegations.

“Our caucus met this afternoon, and we have decided that we will support the other departmental budgets. So the DA will support the total budget.

“The axing of minister Nkabane came after relentless pressure from the DA on the president to get rid of the minister.”