Some parties in National Assembly reject Nkabane's budget
Under fire Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has faced more criticism in the National Assembly over the SETA board controversy, after tabling her department’s budget.
Minister of Higher Education and Training Nobuhle Nkabane tabled her departmental budget in Parliament on 3 July 2025. Picture: Phando Jikelo/RSA Parliament
CAPE TOWN - Some parties in the National Assembly have taken the lead from their National Council of Provinces (NCOP) counterparts in rejecting Minister Nobuhle Nkabane’s higher education department budget.
On Tuesday, parties in the NCOP called for her dismissal over the controversy over the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) board appointment process that had to be abandoned following an outcry.
On Thursday, Nkabane was back before the National Assembly to present the same budget, which received a similar reception from the opposition benches.
Under fire Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has faced more criticism in the National Assembly over the SETA board controversy, after tabling her department’s budget.
Rejecting the budget, ActionSA MP Malebo Kobe, slammed Nkabane and questioned the need for SETAs, calling them a waste of money.
"At the helm of this disaster is a minister who embodies indifference. She concealed the names of so-called independent SETA selection panel and then got caught."
Democratic Alliance MP, Karabo Khakhau, said that the real enemy of progress in the sector was Nkabane, and called on her to resign.
"You don’t need to wait for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire you if you mean it that you are a servant of the people. The people of South Africa say they do not want you to lead the department."
African National Congress (ANC) MPs supported the R142.4 billion budget, saying there was no crisis in the department and the current leadership was more than capable of leading higher education.