South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane, following mounting allegations of misconduct and growing political pressure within the government’s unity coalition.
The announcement, made late Monday by the presidency, comes after weeks of controversy surrounding Nkabane’s alleged misrepresentation to Parliament. She had been accused by the Democratic Alliance (DA), the second-largest party in the 10-party coalition of misleading lawmakers to obscure the improper appointment of individuals with ties to the ruling African National Congress (ANC) to key education oversight boards.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane from her position,” the official statement read, citing her failure to appear before parliamentary committees to address the allegations.
The decision underscores intensifying friction within the national unity government, formed after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in last year’s election. The DA, which joined the coalition on a platform of accountability and reform, has been outspoken in its criticism of alleged corruption within ANC ranks.
“This is just one example of a broader pattern,” a DA spokesperson said, adding that corruption has become “standard practice” under Ramaphosa’s leadership. The party has also filed criminal charges against Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, accusing her of fraudulent invoicing linked to Eskom, the embattled state power utility.
Earlier this month, Ramaphosa was also forced to suspend the national police minister after a senior provincial officer alleged the minister accepted payments from a corruption-linked figure and colluded with organised crime networks.
South Africa’s struggles with high-level corruption continue to dent public trust in government institutions. The country currently ranks 82nd on Transparency International’s global Corruption Perceptions Index a reflection of enduring concerns around accountability and governance.
