The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says the dismissal of Nobuhle Nkabane as the Minister of Higher Education and Training is a step in confronting the corruption and deceit that defined her short tenure.
On Monday, 21 July, Ramaphosa fired Nkabane and appointed her deputy Buti Manamela as the Minister of Higher Education and Training while former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube was appointed the new deputy.
Nkabane made headlines recently for appointing people politically connected to her party, the African National Congress (ANC), as chairpersons of the SETA boards irregularly. To make matters worse, at least four individuals whom Nkabane had claimed were part of the independent panel that appointed the chairpersons accused the former minister of lying and distanced themselves from the process.
NOBUHLE NKABANE’S DISMISSAL WELCOMED
The South African previously reported that the appointments sparked public outrage as the Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe’s son, was also among those appointed by his former deputy, Nobuhle Nkabane.
Eventually, Nkabane withdrew the appointments and reopened the process. However, the Democratic Alliance (DA) had already opened a case against her, accusing her of lying to Parliament.
Reacting to the dismissal, the EFF said if Ramaphosa was genuine about his anti-corruption stance he would have also dismissed the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu who is on special leave following allegations of corruption and political interference in police investigations.
The party said instead, Mchunu remains protected and is receiving a full salary “which is a clear sign he serves a role in preserving the interests of the criminal syndicate operating within the state”.
“This protection is possible only because Ramaphosa himself is deeply compromised, leading a regime that uses state machinery to protect allies and suppress accountability,” the party said.
APPOINTMENT OF NOMUSA DUBE-NCUBE IS NOT BASED ON COMPETENCE
Furthermore, the EFF said the appointment of Nomusa Dube-Ncube as Manamela’s deputy is not based on competence and is another clear indication that Ramaphosa is not serious about accountability or reform.
The EFF said Dube-Ncube is also a controversial figure who was irregularly appointed by Nobuhle Nkabane to a SETA board and is now being rewarded with a senior government position.
“Her undeserved presence in the IDC board and past political roles showcase the fact that she has long been embedded in ANC patronage networks. This appointment is therefore not based on competence but on loyalty as another ANC crony is elevated to continue the cycle of misgovernance.”
DO YOU SUPPORT PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA’S DECISION TO FIRE NOBUHLE NKABANE AS THE MINISTER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING?
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