Majority of political parties in NCOP reject higher education dept's budget, call for Nkabane's axing
While Minister Nobuhle Nkabane steered clear of mentioning the controversy over Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) in her speech, parties across the divide used the debacle to call for her to be fired.
Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane delivered the department's budget vote speech before the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), held in the NCOP Chamber at Parliament, in Cape Town on 1 July 2025. Picture: @HigherEduGovZA/X
CAPE TOWN - The majority of political parties in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) have rejected the budget of the higher education department, as Minister Nobuhle Nkabane on Tuesday faced increased pressure over allegations of corruption and cronyism.
While Nkabane steered clear of mentioning the controversy over Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) in her speech, parties across the divide used the debacle to call for her to be fired.
They said that under her watch, the department had been failing students, while the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was also a hotbed of corruption.
Minister Nkabane appeared to present an upbeat picture of the higher education and vocational skills sector, pledging a revamp of training colleges and increased funding for NSFAS and universities.
But after laying a criminal complaint against her with the police earlier on Tuesday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) upped the ante in Parliament, with MP Jeanne Adriaanse saying that corruption was pervasive in the department.
"This scandal is not isolated. It underscores a pattern of corruption and reckless governance that must be rooted out."
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)'s Laeticia Allies joked that while the DA found itself in a tight spot against its coalition partner, the party agreed that Nkabane had failed the department over the past year.
"You have failed to account for appointments that are glaring examples of political patronage where state institutions intended to empower youth and workers, are turned into ANC employment zones for local cadres."
The MK Party has also rejected the budget, while the Freedom Front Plus's Tammy Breedt said that all eyes were now on the president to act against the minister.