The Minister of Higher Education is the minister in the Cabinet of South Africa with responsibility for higher education in South Africa. The post was created as the Minister of Higher Education and Training in May 2009. It was called the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology between May 2019 and June 2024.
| South Africa Minister of Higher Education | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Department of Higher Education and Training | |
| Style | The Honourable |
| Appointer | President of South Africa |
| Inaugural holder | Blade Nzimande |
| Formation | 11 May 2009 |
| Deputy | |
| Salary | R2,211,937[1] |
| Website | Department of Higher Education and Training |
.jpg)
History
editBefore 10 May 2009, higher education was the responsibility of the Minister of Education. On 10 May 2009, announcing his first cabinet, President Jacob Zuma bifurcated that portfolio, creating the new Minister of Higher Education and Training, alongside a Minister of Basic Education.[2]
When President Cyril Ramaphosa announced his second-term cabinet on 29 May 2019, he announced that the Ministry of Science and Technology would be absorbed by the higher education portfolio, creating the enlarged portfolio of the new Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology.[3][4] However, Ramaphosa reversed the merger in his third cabinet, announced on 30 June 2024;[5] henceforth there was an independent Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, while the higher education portfolio was the provenance of the Minister of Higher Education.[6]
List of ministers with responsibility for higher education
edit| Ministry | Minister | Incumbency | Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Sibusiso Bengu | 10 May 1994 – 14 June 1999 | Nelson Mandela |
| Kader Asmal | 17 June 1999 – 29 April 2004 | Thabo Mbeki | |
| Naledi Pandor | 29 April 2004 – 24 September 2008 | ||
| 25 September 2008 – 9 May 2009 | Kgalema Motlanthe | ||
| Higher Education and Training | Blade Nzimande | 10 May 2009 – 17 October 2017 | Jacob Zuma |
| Hlengiwe Mkhize | 17 October 2017 – 26 February 2018 | ||
| Naledi Pandor | 26 February 2018 – 29 May 2019 | Cyril Ramaphosa | |
| Higher Education, Science and Technology | Blade Nzimande | 29 May 2019 – 19 June 2024 | |
| Higher Education | Nobuhle Nkabane | 30 June 2024 – present |
References
edit- ^ ""Determination salaries and allowances of the Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers", Proclamation No. 3 of 2015. Archived 29 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
- ^ "Statement by President Jacob Zuma on the appointment of the new Cabinet". South African Government Information. 10 May 2009. Archived from the original on 13 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2009.
- ^ Mzekandaba, Simnikiwe (29 May 2019). "Science, technology and higher education merged". ITWeb. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Wild, Sarah (3 June 2019). "Merging of research and education departments spells disaster for scientific inquiry". Business Day. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "South Africa's post-election Cabinet enters new political territory after 30 years of democracy". Daily Maverick. 30 June 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Higher education and science ministries split in new cabinet". University World News. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.