Manamela’s appointment and that of former KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube, as his deputy, follows the axing of Dr Nobuhle Nkabane last night.

Nkabane's axing follows months of controversy over the Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) board appointments that saw several African National Congress-aligned individuals appointed. Her sacking comes a day before she was to account to Parliament's Higher Education Committee on the board appointment process.

Nkabane had previously failed to appear in the committee's last two meetings. SASCO National Executive Committee Member, Bongeka Dlamini says they have high hopes in Manamela as he has been the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training for a long time, and is the former leader of SASCO.

"From him we expect immediate rectification of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) board, restarting Sector Education and Training Authorities process and appoint immediately. Payments of allowances as we're restarting the recess, excluding financial accommodation and academic especially of the first year due to outstanding allowances. Also public process of the amendment of higher education act, write-off of the student debt because students are facing exclusion due to debt by NSFAS. The students are not supposed to pay for themselves but the NSFAS is there to pay for them," Dlamini said.

--SABC--