South Africans Celebrate As Cyril Ramaphosa Fires Dr Nobuhle Nkabane

• President Cyril Ramaphosa sacked Dr Nobuhle Nkabane as the Minister of Higher Education and Training
• He replaced her with her deputy, Buti Manamela, and replaced Manamela with former KwaZulu-Natal premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube
• South Africans saluted Ramaphosa and called on him to fire other ministers who are incompetent

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

PRETORIA, GAUTENG — South Africans applauded President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to fire Dr Nobuhle Nkabane as the Minister of Higher Education and Training.

The presidency posted the announcement on 21 July 2025 on its @PresidencyZA X account. Ramaphosa replaced Nkabane with her former deputy, Buti Manamela, who is the current Minister of Higher Education and Training. Ramaphosa appointed former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, who also served as the province's MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

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Read the X statement here:

Nkabane responds to Ramaphosa's removal

Nkabane, in a statement, thanked Ramaphosa for allowing her to serve as a minister. She said it was a privilege to lead the portfolio and was grateful for the support from the sector and South Africans.

Why did Ramaphosa fire Nkabane?

Ramaphosa's decision to remove Nkabane came after public outrage over Nkabane's recent conduct in Parliament. She was berated for the process she used to appoint the Secretary of Education and Training Board members.

She was summoned to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education to account for the appointments on 30 May and went viral for eating bubble gum in the sitting. She was also criticised for how she answered questions during the Parliamentary sitting and for refusing to answer some questions.

She defended herself and said that she was allowed to eat. She also said that she was committed to her work and that she cooperated with the Portfolio Committee.

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She withdrew the appointments following intense scrutiny. She was also criticized after she failed to appear when she was summoned to appear before parliament in mid-July and opted to attend a gender-based violence event in the Eastern Cape. She sent an apology, and portfolio committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie rejected her apology.

South Africans reacted

Netizens commenting on X shared their views.

Lynette Engelbrecht said:

"We finally get to see the proper use of a deputy minister. I think Buti Manamela will bring dignity back to this position. Good riddance to Nkabane!"

Member of Parliament Brett Herrron said:

The appointment of Buti Manamela as Minister of Higher Education is a solid choice."

Molefe Kamogelo Maile said:

"I welcome the appointment of the two capable and humble leaders."

Maso Nqawe said:

Buti Manamela has been in that ministry for long enough and I think he understands it better."

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Baba Yaga said:

"Gotta give all his homies a chance before they're removed from Parliament."

Looking at the president’s powers and duties

The President is the Head of State and the leader of the national executive. As the highest authority in the country, the President must uphold, defend, and respect the Constitution, which is the supreme law of South Africa. One of the President's main responsibilities is to promote national unity and support the progress and development of the Republic.

The President has several important powers and duties given by the Constitution and national laws. These include signing new laws (called Bills) or sending them back to Parliament if there are concerns about their constitutionality. If needed, the President can also ask the Constitutional Court to decide if a Bill is in line with the Constitution.

The President is also in charge of making official appointments as required by law, appointing commissions of inquiry, and calling a national referendum when allowed by Parliament.

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Ramaphosa places Senzo Mchunu on special leave

In a related article, Briefly News reported that Ramaphosa placed Senzo Mchunu on special leave and appointed an acting minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, as his replacement. He also established a commission of inquiry.

Ramaphosa's actions followed the allegations KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made against Mchunu. He established the commission to investigate Mkhwanazi's allegations.

Source: Briefly News