New minister Bhuti Manamela brings nothing new

NEWLY-APPOINTED Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela’s track record contradicts his party, the ANC’s claim that his leadership will advance access, equity, and quality in the higher education sector.

He has been the higher education and training deputy minister for almost 10 years and it’s safe to say that he watched the collapse of entities such as the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). 

 He was at the helm when poor students were forced to sleep rough on the floor of administration buildings because NSFAS failed to pay for their accommodation.

He watched students being attacked by police with stun grenades and tear gas when they demanded to be registered. 

Manamela had the power to distance himself from his boss, the outgoing Nobuhle Nkabane when she misled Parliament on the controversial appointments of the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs) board members, which included Buyelembo Mantashe, the son of Nkabane’s former boss and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. 

We can go on and on about instances where Manamela chose to take the backseat while Rome was burning, literally. 

To expect South Africans to believe that he is the right person to turn that ministry’s fortunes around is wishful thinking at best or insulting people’s intelligence at worst.

How do we expect a person who was part of the problem to be responsible for solutions?

What his appointment signals is an attempt by the ANC to appease the SACP, Manamela’s political home, which intends contesting next year’s local government election in protest of the ANC governing with the DA in the so-called Government of National Unity. It's also to stabilise the fractured relations between the ANC and the DA coalition. 

If not, then why has Ramaphosa not fired other ministers implicated in serious corruption allegations? 

Nkabane’s departure was long overdue. Her arrogance was the true reflection of what the ANC has become. No wonder voters continue rejecting it at the polls.

The party’s continued lip service to ethical leadership that is grounded in truly addressing the pressing  needs of the majority of people of this country will see it lose the little power it still has  on some of the key metros in the 2026 local government elections. 

Last year’s national elections were just the beginning of an end. 

CAPE TIMES