South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane following serious allegations of misconduct. Nkabane was accused by the Democratic Alliance (DA), a key coalition partner, of manipulating board appointments in favor of ANC-linked individuals and misleading Parliament. Though she has denied the allegations, she expressed gratitude for her time in office.

The dismissal comes at a politically sensitive moment, as tensions rise within the ANC-DA coalition over issues of accountability. The DA, already upset by the earlier firing of its own deputy minister for an unauthorized trip, had warned it might oppose budget votes for ministers facing corruption claims.

Ramaphosa’s decision to remove Nkabane is widely seen as a move to restore stability within the coalition and reinforce a commitment to transparency as the government prepares for crucial budget deliberations in Parliament.