Pretoria: President Cyril Ramaphosa has removed Dr. Nobuhle Nkabane from her position as Minister of Higher Education and Training, appointing Buti Manamela as the new Minister for the department.

According to South African Government News Agency, Manamela, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training since the 6th administration, has now been promoted to lead the department. The Presidency announced these changes through a statement issued on Monday night.

In addition to Manamela’s appointment, President Ramaphosa has also appointed Dr. Nomusa Dube-Ncube as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training. Dr. Dube-Ncube brings significant government leadership experience, having served as the MEC for Cooperative Government and Traditional Affairs and as Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, among other roles, as highlighted by the President’s office.

The appointments were made under Section 93 (b) of the Constitution, which allows the President to appoint up to two Deputy Ministers from outside the Assembly. This reshuffle follows a request by the President last month for Dr. Nkabane to submit a detailed report regarding her conduct during a parliamentary engagement on May 30, 2025, which drew media attention.

The request for the report came after a viral video showed the former Minister eating while responding to a question from the Chairperson of the Higher Education committee, Tebogo Letsie. President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of professionalism, transparency, and cordiality in the conduct of Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and senior public sector executives when engaging with Parliament and other accountability institutions.