MANAMELA STEPS IN AS NKABANE GETS THE BOOT

Political parties have welcomed the decision

- SINENHLANHLA MASILELA

POLITICAL parties have expressed approval of the decision to remove Dr Nobuhle Nkabane from her role as Minister of Higher Education and Training.

One party has accused her of showing an “unrepentant disregard for what it means to serve the people of South Africa.”

Nkabane found herself at the centre of a parliamentary storm when she failed to attend a crucial meeting of the portfolio committee on Friday.

The portfolio committee had invited Nkabane and the panel members who recommended the now-cancelled appointments of the chairpersons for the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) boards.

Advocate Terry Motau and Chief Director for SETA Coordination, Mabuza Ngubane, attended the meeting, but Nkabane was notably absent.

Also present were Deputy Ministers Buti Manamela and Mimmy Gondwe, whom the committee wanted to question about their roles in the appointments.

However, in a swift response to recent controversies, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Manamela as the new Minister of Higher Education and Training.

The decision was announced in a brief statement yesterday afternoon.

Nkabane expressed her gratitude to President Ramaphosa for the opportunity to serve in such a critical role, stating: “I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the President of the Republic of South Africa, H.E. Cyril Ramaphosa, for entrusting me with the responsibility to serve as Minister of Higher Education and Training.”