President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane as Minister of Higher Education and Training, following intense scrutiny over her handling of board appointments and growing criticism from Parliament and student groups.
Buti Manamela has been appointed as South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training effective 21 July 2025, succeeding Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane following her removal from office. Manamela previously served as Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training since June 2024.
Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube has been appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, filling the role vacated by Manamela’s promotion.
Buti Manamela has been appointed Minister of Higher Education and Training by President Cyril Ramaphosa, effective 21 July 2025, following the removal of Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane from the portfolio. Manamela previously served as Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training from June 2024, bringing continuity and hands-on experience to the ministry’s top post. He has a long history in government and youth activism, having held previous positions as Deputy Minister in the Presidency and Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation. Manamela is an experienced ANC and SACP cadre, with a Master’s in Public Policy and Development Management from the University of the Witwatersrand, as well as a background in technical education. His active engagement with institutions—such as oversight visits to universities and TVET colleges—reflects a hands-on, proactive leadership style focused on registration, student performance, and institutional readiness.
Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube has been appointed Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training. Dube-Ncube is an accomplished government leader, notably having served as KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs and later as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal province. Her appointment, made directly by the President from outside the National Assembly under a specific constitutional provision, underscores her recognized administrative expertise and ability to manage complex portfolios. This makes her a key asset in addressing the governance and structural challenges facing the higher education sector.
The new leadership team signals a deliberate effort to restore stability and credibility to the Department of Higher Education and Training. Manamela’s technical and political experience, combined with Dube-Ncube’s proven executive leadership, positions the ministry to tackle current crises and focus on long-term reforms in alignment with national priorities.
Timeline of Key Developments
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June 2024: Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane is appointed as South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training.
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Early 2025: Controversy arises over the appointment of members to the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) boards. The selection process is questioned for possible bias and lack of transparency, with allegations that the supposedly independent panel included staff from the minister’s own department.
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June – July 2025: Opposition parties, notably the Democratic Alliance, and major student organizations, including the South African Students Congress, urge Nkabane to step down, citing concerns about governance and accountability.
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July 2025: Nkabane misses two scheduled appearances before Parliament’s higher education committee, where she was expected to explain the SETA board appointments. These absences intensify criticism and lead to broader public debate about her fitness for office.
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21 July 2025: As Nkabane’s third scheduled committee appearance approaches, she issues a statement formally stepping down from her position, thanking the president and the public for the opportunity to serve.
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21 July 2025 (shortly thereafter): President Ramaphosa announces Nkabane’s removal and appoints Buti Manamela, her former deputy, as the new Minister of Higher Education and Training. Nomusa Dube-Ncube is announced as deputy minister.
