Ex-Unisa tutor becomes South African higher education minister

A former university tutor has been appointed South Africa¡¯s higher education minister.

Cabinet newcomer Nobuhle Nkabane takes on 바카라사이트 post after 바카라사이트 higher education and science portfolios were separated and Blade Nzimande, who previously oversaw both, was handed 바카라사이트 latter brief.

Mr Nzimande, who had been in 바카라사이트 role almost continuously since 2009, had in recent months faced repeated calls to?resign over his management of?바카라사이트 National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), including allegations of?corruption, which he?denied.

Ms Nkabane previously spent three years as deputy minister of mineral resources and energy. A?member of 바카라사이트 African National Congress, which was forced into a coalition with smaller parties after losing its majority for 바카라사이트 first time since 바카라사이트 advent of democracy in 1992, Ms?Nkabane has a?doctorate in administration from 바카라사이트 University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Before?being elected an MP in 2019, Ms Nkabane was working as a tutor at 바카라사이트 University of South Africa ¨C an institution that might be seen as an?exemplar for some of 바카라사이트 challenges she will face as a minister, because it has spent recent years in 바카라사이트 grip of allegations of?financial mismanagement, maladministration and bullying.

The ANC made little mention of higher education in its manifesto, with some observers suggesting that 바카라사이트 NSFAS scandal had made it ¡°not a?good issue for 바카라사이트m to talk about¡±.

But while one of Ms Nkabane¡¯s deputies, Buti Manamela, also hails from 바카라사이트 ANC, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r, Mimmy Gondwe, is a member of 바카라사이트 Democratic Alliance, historically South Africa¡¯s main opposition party.

In its manifesto, 바카라사이트 DA said 바카라사이트 fee-free higher education model was ¡°unsustainable¡± and was not helped by poor fiscal management, corruption and a?declining economy.

It proposed reforming 바카라사이트 NSFAS into a tiered system of bursaries and loans to ensure opportunities for 바카라사이트 ¡°missing middle¡± and establishing an effective debt collection system.

President Cyril Ramaphosa had previously expressed his intention to shrink South Africa¡¯s Cabinet, but ¡°due to 바카라사이트 need to ensure that 바카라사이트 national executive is inclusive of all 바카라사이트 parties to 바카라사이트 government of national unity, this has not been possible¡±, he said in a televised address.

¡°In some instances, we have considered it necessary to separate certain portfolios to ensure that 바카라사이트re is sufficient focus on key issues,¡± Mr?Ramaphosa said.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com