Babalo Ndenze22 July 2025 | 3:43

DA: Nkabane departure from Cabinet first step to restoring faith in GNU

The DA joined other parties like the Freedom Front (FF) Plus and RISE Mzansi in welcoming Nkabane’s axing from Cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.

DA: Nkabane departure from Cabinet first step to restoring faith in GNU

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 - The Democratic Alliance (DA) said the departure of Nobuhle Nkabane from Cabinet “under a cloud of lies” and a Hawks investigation is the first step to restoring faith that the Government of National Unity (GNU) will not tolerate corruption.

The DA joined other parties like the Freedom Front (FF) Plus and RISE Mzansi in welcoming Nkabane’s axing from Cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday.

Nkabane’s firing comes after months of calls for action to be taken against her over the now-abandoned Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board selection process.

The process saw several African National Congress (ANC)-aligned people appointed to chair some of the 21 SETA boards.

“Our fight as the Democratic Alliance is to rid the Cabinet of corrupt people and to make sure that the people of this country have dignified ministers whose sole purpose and responsibility is to serve the people of this country with honesty,” said DA member of Parliament (MP) Karabo Khakhau.

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party’s Mnqobizitha Msezane said Nkabane’s removal was a long time coming after she failed to account for the “irregular and unlawful allocation” of the SETA board positions.

“It has been a long overdue removal as we had stressed over and over again the necessity for the sector to have a competent and capable ministry that will ensure that.”