Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has reiterated her commitment to serving the people of South Africa as she faces escalating calls for her resignation. In a steely response to the scrutiny surrounding her leadership, Nkabane declared, “I am not going to dignify direct attacks on me. I am going to focus on the task at hand of serving the people of South Africa.”
These comments came during her presentation of the department’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year in the National Assembly. Her budget announcement follows a previous presentation in the National Council of Provinces, where it faced rejection from parties including the DA, the MK Party, and the EFF.
The Higher Education Department has been allocated R142.4 billion, which is projected to grow at an annual rate of 4.4%, reaching R150 billion in the next financial year and R158 billion by 2027/28. Despite this apparent growth, Nkabane admitted that the funding is insufficient to meet the increasing demands for educational resources. She highlighted that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges will receive R14 billion, while both the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) and the National Skills Fund have been allocated R26 billion combined.
Nkabane’s standing is further complicated by recent allegations surrounding her appointment practices. Advocate Terry Motau, whom she named as chair of an independent SETA board advisory panel, has publicly stated that he never accepted this position. This revelation has raised questions about her integrity, with accusations of misleading Parliament and manipulating board appointments to favour individuals with political ties. Notably, her controversial recommendations included names like Buyambo Mantashe, son of Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe, and former KwaZulu-Natal Premier Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube.
The backlash over these appointments led to President Cyril Ramaphosa expressing his dissatisfaction, prompting Nkabane to restart the selection process.
During her budget presentation, Nkabane addressed funding allocations for student support, stating that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has been granted R48.7 billion, with projections of R51 billion next year and R53.4 billion by 2027. She underscored NSFAS’s commitment to implementing an inclusive funding model for higher education, particularly aimed at assisting the “missing middle.” Furthermore, the National Skills Fund has earmarked R3 billion over three years to address skills training needs.
The allocation for university education has increased from R91.7 billion to R96 billion, albeit with a R1.4 billion deficit. Nkabane assured that her department is actively working with the National Treasury to resolve this budget shortfall.
Tebogo Letsie, ANC MP and chairperson of the Higher Education Portfolio Committee, voiced his intention to ensure accountability from NSFAS, universities, and the department itself. In a pointed remark directed at the DA, he highlighted the ramifications of their rejection of the budget, urging voters to remember that the party was effectively denying opportunities for their children’s education.
As Nkabane continues to navigate through these turbulent times, her resolve to remain focused on improving the educational landscape in South Africa seems unwavering, despite the challenges posed by political turmoil and budgetary constraints.