The Eastern Cape High Court has reserved judgment in an urgent defamation case brought by Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema over remarks relating to Mabuyane’s academic record.

The dispute centres on comments Malema made outside a magistrate’s court in KuGompo City in April, where he alleged Mabuyane had “stolen” a master’s degree from the University of Fort Hare.

Mabuyane approached the court on an urgent basis after demanding that Malema retract the remarks and apologise. He is seeking an order declaring the statements defamatory and unlawful, and to bar Malema from repeating them.

Arguing for Mabuyane before Judge Johannes Willem Eksteen on Tuesday, advocate Mfundo Salukazana said Malema’s remarks carried the implication that the premier had committed fraud.

“The sting lies in the criminal offence of fraudulently obtaining the degree,” Salukazana argued.

He said Mabuyane had never obtained or claimed to hold a master’s degree and therefore could not have “stolen” one.

“It hasn’t been demonstrated where he’s ever claimed to have a master’s degree, and therefore one cannot steal that which he’s never possessed or claimed to possess,” he told the court.

Salukazana also argued that Malema had misrepresented findings contained in a 2021 forensic investigation into Mabuyane’s registration and subsequent deregistration from the university’s master’s programme.

Court arguments indicated that Malema’s defence rests partly on a forensic report compiled after questions were raised about Mabuyane’s registration, including allegations that aspects of his thesis work may have involved ghostwriting.

Salukazana maintained that the report did not conclude that Mabuyane had fraudulently obtained a degree.

“What we’ve come to court about is whether or not the statement that he stole a master’s degree and therefore defrauded the university in how he obtained the master’s degree is false, and we submit that it is,” he said.

For Malema, advocate Mfesane Ka-Siboto argued that the EFF leader’s comments were based on existing findings and media reports and therefore constituted fair comment.

“This report came out in 2021. At no point does he seek to bring that report under review,” Ka-Siboto told the court.

He said Mabuyane could not now rely on urgency when the forensic findings had been in the public domain for years.

“If he was genuinely concerned about his name being impugned in relation to the master’s degree, then certainly he should have thought to have that report reviewed and set aside,” Ka-Siboto said.

The court also heard that Mabuyane has filed a separate application to review and set aside the university’s decision to deregister him from the programme. That matter is due to be heard on 18 June.

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Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has warned that cash-strapped provincial education departments are beginning to buckle, forcing the state to redirect money from early childhood development (ECD) to keep compulsory Grade R reforms alive.

South Africa is trying to implement the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act, which makes Grade R attendance compulsory.

At the same time, it is battling teacher-post placements, infrastructure backlogs and a literacy crisis in which 81% of Grade 4 learners could not read for meaning in any language in the 2021 PIRLS assessment.

“Aligning qualified Grade R practitioner salaries with Foundation Phase educators, while appointing additional Grade R teachers, will cost approximately R10 billion over the Medium Term,” Gwarube told Parliament during her Budget Vote speech.

“National Treasury has not allocated the full funding required. We have therefore redirected R800 million from the ECD Grant to address immediate Grade R pressures. This is not ideal, but doing nothing would be worse.”

The Department of Basic Education’s 2026/27 allocation is R38.2 billion, including R32.7 billion for conditional grants. Those include almost R11 billion for school nutrition, R16 billion for school infrastructure, R4.6 billion for early childhood development, R477 million for mathematics, science and technology, and R307 million for learners with disabilities.

Treasury has said the ECD grant receives an additional R12.8 billion over three years to expand access to an estimated 300,000 more children and maintain the R24 per child per day subsidy introduced in 2025/26.

But Gwarube’s speech made clear that national allocations are not keeping pace with the full cost of implementation in provinces, where most schooling delivery takes place.

“The learner must not become the shock absorber for provincial cash-flow failures,” she said.

Gwarube said financial risks previously identified in provincial education departments were now “materialising in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State and the Northern Cape, with others under growing pressure”.

She announced a “Multi-disciplinary Recovery Technical Support Team” to support provinces on budget planning, financial analysis and school resourcing.

“When provincial education finances fail, learners suffer first,” she said.

In September 2024, Gwarube said a financial analysis she had initiated projected that three provincial education departments would fall into the red by 2025/26, increasing to four by 2026/27 and seven in the outer year of the medium-term spending period.

The Northern Cape later told Parliament it had a R358 million shortfall on declared posts, equivalent to 663 educator posts, including 51 Grade R practitioners for which funding had not been provided by the provincial treasury.

Gwarube put the funding fight at the centre of South Africa’s attempt to break entrenched inequality before children reach formal schooling.

“Over 90% of South African children are Nelsons and not Lindiwes,” she said, referring to two fictional 10-year-olds in her speech — one who had access to structured early childhood development and one who did not. “This is the education injustice of our time”.

The latest Thrive by Five Index found that 68% of South Africa’s four-year-olds live below the upper-bound poverty line, 37% live below the food poverty line, and about 29% were not attending any group learning programme in 2024.

Gwarube said more than 13,300 ECD centres had been registered in the past year, exceeding a 10,000-centre target. She said ECD registration had grown by 200% between 2021 and 2026, giving more than 1.2 million children access to registered ECD programmes.

She also announced that an ECD nutrition pilot had entered implementation, with the contract advertised in March 2026 and centres in the Eastern Cape expected to be piloted soon. She said the programme responded to Thrive by Five findings that 7% of South African children were stunted because of malnutrition.

Gwarube said the department would rank provinces using a “quality basket” instead of relying mainly on the matric pass rate.

The basket will include the overall pass percentage, bachelor passes, distinctions, participation and performance in gateway subjects such as mathematics, physical sciences and accounting, and learner retention.

“[F]or too long, the national conversation on quality has been reduced to a single percentage – the national pass rate or the misleading myth of a 30% pass mark,” she said.

Gwarube also said 10,000 Foundation Phase teachers would receive targeted literacy and numeracy training this year, while the department refreshes implementation of the National Reading Literacy Strategy.

She said the Funza Lushaka bursary programme had shifted more strongly toward Foundation Phase education, with 55% of bursaries allocated to that phase in 2026, up from 42% in 2025.

Gwarube announced an independent external investigation into the Foundation Phase National Catalogue process, saying concerns about procurement for Grade 1 to 3 learning materials were serious enough to require outside scrutiny.

She said Treasury’s consideration of the matter had been inconclusive, but had raised concern about whether the department’s deviation from ordinary competitive bidding processes was lawfully justified and properly supported by the required records, reasons and approvals.

“Corruption in education is never victimless. And neither is weak governance,” Gwarube said. “Both are ultimately paid for by children.”

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The committee deliberated on Chairperson Tebogo Letsie’s decision to postpone a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, after members did not receive the required documentation in time to prepare adequately.

Committee members agreed that Letsie had little choice but to postpone the meeting after the minister failed to provide the committee with the necessary presentations and supporting documents relating to the NSFAS intervention.

The committee also rejected claims that the meeting had been cancelled through a WhatsApp message, clarifying that the chairperson had formally communicated the postponement to members through an official letter and had engaged the Chair of Chairs on the matter.

“The committee has recommended that the next meeting be held on Friday, 29 May 2026. Committee members also called for the timeous delivery of documentation about the appointment of the NSFAS administrator, so they can prepare for the meeting effectively,” Letsie said.

He added that, in line with Parliament’s accountability framework, the Minister is required to appear before the committee to account for the decision to place NSFAS under administration and to explain the process followed.

The committee further accepted NSFAS’s explanation that it could not cover travel expenses for former board members, as they no longer hold office and there may be no legal or policy basis for such expenditure.

Earlier this month, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela placed the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration due to governance instability within the institution.

Members said the meeting is of significant public importance, as it affects millions of NSFAS students and the broader higher education sector.

– SAnews.gov.za

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Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called for stronger education systems across Africa, saying technology and artificial intelligence cannot replace basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Speaking at the Education World Forum 2026 in London, Gwarube highlighted South Africa’s efforts to strengthen foundational learning and expand Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes.

“South Africa is investing R10 billion over three years to expand Early Childhood Development, and a further R496 million to create 115 000 ECD spaces in three of our most rural provinces of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. These investments signify our commitment to children whose futures should not be determined by the circumstances of their birth,” she said.

“As a country we can be proud of the strategic shift we have made towards strengthening the foundations of learning.”

The R496 million allocation is linked to an outcomes-based early childhood development fund aimed at expanding access to early learning in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

The Education World Forum is being held in London from 17 to 20 May under the theme “Educating for a Shared Future: Peace, Planet, Purpose and Pathways”. The forum brings together education ministers, policymakers and education sector leaders to discuss the future of global education systems.

Gwarube said South Africa had made a strategic shift towards prioritising foundational learning for the country’s 13.7 million learners.

“Strong futures require strong foundations,” she said.

She said the issue was particularly important for Africa, which has the youngest population in the world, making education critical to turning demographic growth into economic opportunity.

“If Africa is to rise, Africa’s children must rise first,” she said.

Referring to South Africa’s literacy crisis, Gwarube said about eight in 10 children could not read for meaning by the age of 10.

She described this as more than a literacy challenge, calling it a “future-readiness crisis” that affected learners’ ability to succeed in gateway subjects such as Mathematics, Science and Technology.

“When a child cannot read for meaning, every subject becomes difficult and opportunities become limited,” she said.

While many countries were discussing artificial intelligence, automation and the future digital economy, Gwarube said governments had to recognise that meaningful innovation could not happen without strong educational foundations.

“No country can build a high-tech economy on weak educational foundations,” she said.

“No country can leapfrog literacy, and no country can automate its way around numeracy.”

Gwarube said the future economy would require children who could think critically, solve problems, adapt and create, rather than learners who only knew how to operate technology.

She posed what she described as an urgent question for learners facing the future: “Will I be able to read well enough to participate in that future at all?”

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Nearly 9 000 learners across South Africa will receive essential stationery packs after R1 million was raised through the Checkers Act For Change Back-to-School project in partnership with non-profit organisation Meals on Wheels.

The organisation announced on Monday that the fundraising initiative will help provide learners with school supplies, especially in low-income schools.

This includes pens, exercise books, calculators and other classroom essentials.

Meals on Wheels said it is working closely with schools and communities nationwide to ensure the stationery reaches learners and schools most in need.

“We see first-hand the challenges families face every day. Through our network, we’re able to help ensure these supplies reach learners in communities that are often overlooked,” said Gershon Naidoo, the national programmes and marketing director of Meals on Wheels.

The campaign was launched at the start of this year’s academic calendar.

According to the organisation, funds were raised through the sale of a limited-edition Act For Change exam pad, sold in Checkers stores and on the Checkers Sixty60 app, with R2 from every purchase going directly towards the stationery fund. 

Customers also contributed by donating R5 at till points in stores nationwide.

Several leading stationery brands supported the initiative by contributing a portion of proceeds from selected products. 

These included Pritt, Bostik, Henkel, Staedtler, Penflex, Bic, Butterfly, Casio, KV Art, Freedom Stationery, Bidvest, Palm Stationery, CTP Stationery, Sappi and Plastafrica.

Naidoo said access to basic school supplies can significantly improve a learner’s ability to participate confidently in class and focus on their education.

He said the overwhelming support for the campaign demonstrated how small contributions can collectively create meaningful change.

“Ensuring learners have the basic tools they need allows them to focus on learning and engage more fully in the classroom,” chief sustainability officer at the Shoprite Group, Sanjeev Raghubir said. 

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Gauteng recorded 69 125 new hypertension cases in the 2025/26 financial year, including 26 088 among adults aged 18 to 44, as health authorities warned that high blood pressure was increasingly affecting younger residents.

The figures were released by the Gauteng Department of Health in a statement issued on Sunday to mark World Hypertension Day, observed annually on 17 May.

“The Gauteng Department of Health has noted with concern the increasing number of adults under the age of 45 diagnosed with hypertension across the province,” the department said.

“During the 2025/26 financial year, from April 2025 to March 2026, Gauteng recorded 69 125 new hypertension cases across the province. Of these, 26 088 cases were recorded among adults aged between 18 and 44. Contributing factors include unhealthy eating habits, obesity, lack of physical exercise, smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.”

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often described as a “silent killer” because many people do not experience symptoms until serious complications develop.

“Hypertension, commonly known as the ‘silent killer’, often develops without noticeable symptoms and remains one of the leading contributors to stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and premature death,” the department said.

The department said routine screening remained critical, especially because many residents may not know their blood pressure status.

“As hypertension frequently presents without symptoms, routine screening remains essential. In a bid to strengthen early detection and prevention efforts, the Department screened approximately 8.7 million adults for hypertension across Gauteng during the 2025/26 financial year.”

Public healthcare facilities in the province provide free blood pressure checks and chronic disease management services for people diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and related conditions.

“In addition, public healthcare facilities provide free blood pressure screening and integrated chronic disease management services for individuals diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and related conditions,” the department said.

The department said its ward-based outreach teams and community health workers would continue providing health education, promoting healthier lifestyles and encouraging residents to undergo free blood pressure screening at public healthcare facilities and during community outreach activities.

“To reduce the risk of hypertension, residents are encouraged to exercise regularly, reduce salt intake, stop smoking and limit alcohol consumption. Individuals diagnosed with hypertension are advised to take their medication as prescribed by healthcare professionals and adhere to treatment plans to effectively manage the condition.”

Residents on chronic medication were also encouraged to register for the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme, which allows patients to collect medication closer to their homes and reduce waiting times at healthcare facilities.

“Residents can also make use of the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution Programme to collect chronic medication closer to their homes and reduce waiting times at healthcare facilities. Visit your nearest clinic to register on the CCMDD system.”

The World Health Organisation said the 2026 World Hypertension Day theme was “Controlling Hypertension Together: check your blood pressure regularly, defeat the silent killer”. It said the day was aimed at raising global awareness about high blood pressure and promoting prevention, detection and control.

The WHO’s Regional Office for Africa said hypertension was rising rapidly across the region, driven by urbanisation, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol and tobacco. It said the trend posed a growing threat to health, well-being and sustainable development.

Globally, WHO estimates that 1.4 billion adults aged 30 to 79 had hypertension in 2024, while about 600 million adults with hypertension were unaware they had the condition. It also estimated that only about 320 million adults with hypertension had it under control.

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One of the most important expectations placed on higher education today is that it prepares students for successful careers. 

While intellectual development remains central to the mission of universities, students increasingly seek – rightly so – educational experiences that provide clear pathways into professional life.

Career-focused education, therefore, plays a vital role in connecting academic learning with the practical realities of the workplace. 

For this reason, it is incumbent on universities to actively strengthen the link between learning and employability.

Students enter higher education with the hope that their qualifications will enable them to build meaningful careers. Institutions therefore have a responsibility to ensure that academic programmes provide both theoretical depth and opportunities for practical application.

Career-focused education does not diminish the intellectual value of higher education. Rather, it enhances it by ensuring that academic knowledge can be applied to real-world contexts.

In today’s economy, employers seek graduates who can demonstrate both subject knowledge and practical capabilities. Skills such as teamwork, communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving are highly valued across industries.

Universities must help students develop these competencies by integrating practical life skills opportunities into academic programmes. Work-integrated learning, internships, project-based learning, and industry collaborations also provide students with valuable opportunities to apply what they have learned in real-world settings.

These experiences help students build confidence while also developing the professional skills that employers seek. 

Institutions seeking to strengthen career-focused education can consider the following approaches:

Expand work-integrated learning opportunities

Internships, practical placements, and industry projects allow students to gain direct exposure to professional environments. This means that students graduate with practical experience that enhances employability.

Strengthen career guidance and development services

Career counselling, CV workshops, and interview preparation help students transition successfully into the workplace. Students, therefore, gain clarity about career pathways and develop stronger job-search skills.

Develop strong employer partnerships

Collaboration with industry partners can provide insights into emerging skills requirements and new employment opportunities. Institutions must strengthen their alignment with labour market needs.

Embed professional skills – including AI skills – within curricula

Communication, teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills should be integrated into academic programmes rather than treated as separate activities. This would allow graduates to become well-rounded professionals capable of contributing effectively in the workplace.

In addition, universities should explicitly teach students how to responsibly and effectively use AI tools, given the rapidly changing nature of the workplace. This includes developing critical AI literacy skills such as prompt engineering, ethical AI use, evaluating AI-generated outputs, and integrating AI to augment human capabilities rather than replace them.

Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation

Not all graduates will follow traditional employment pathways. Institutions that promote entrepreneurial thinking help students identify opportunities to create their own ventures. 

It is also a fact that entrepreneurship contributes to job creation and economic development.

Given all this, it is clear that career-focused education delivers benefits that extend beyond individual graduates.

For students, it increases confidence and preparedness as they transition from study to employment. Exposure to professional environments helps students better understand industry expectations and workplace dynamics.

For institutions, strong employability outcomes enhance reputation and strengthen relationships with industry partners.

For society, career-focused education contributes to economic growth by ensuring that graduates possess the skills required to support innovation and productivity.

Higher education institutions have a unique opportunity to shape the future workforce by designing programmes that combine academic excellence with practical relevance. 

Institutions that embrace career-focused education ultimately strengthen their contribution to society.

When higher education institutions actively connect learning with professional opportunity, they empower graduates to build careers that are both personally fulfilling and economically productive. 

As economies evolve and industries continue to transform, the ability of higher education to bridge the gap between learning and the workplace is essential.

 Peter Kriel is Executive: Operations at The Independent Institute of Education.

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South Africa has named its U17 national football squad, Amajimbos, ahead of their opening U17 Africa Cup of Nations match in Rabat, Morocco, on Wednesday.

Coach Vela Khumalo made the announcement on Friday, with the team set to depart for North Africa in the coming days ahead of partaking in Group D, against Senegal, Ghana and Algeria.

Khumalo said he was confident that the South African side could proceed to the knockout stages.

“What we have seen is that we stand a good chance, and we can get out of this group. We know that Senegal is a little bit physical, and they are big. The same goes with Ghana. Algeria is more or less like us. We have done our analysis on all of them, and we think we can do well,” he said.

The coach said that although the journey through the tournament was just as important, if not more so, than simply getting out of the groups, this did not diminish their determination to qualify for the U17 World Cup.

“We said that going to the World Cup is not about getting out of the group stages, but we also want to see ourselves going further in the tournament,” Khumalo said.

The tournament runs from 13 May to 2 June and will also serve as qualification for the 2026 FIFA U17 World Cup in Qatar, with the top 10 teams securing places at the global showpiece later this year.

South Africa open their campaign against defending 2023 champions Senegal on Thursday in what Khumalo described as one of the toughest groups in the competition.

The squad is dominated by players from the Gauteng Development League, with Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns contributing the bulk of the players selected.

Among the standout inclusions is Germany-based midfielder Jaylen Potgieter, who recently received his first Amajimbos call-up after impressing at the academy of Bundesliga club FC Koln.

Potgieter’s father, former Ajax Cape Town and Orlando Pirates player Shaun Potgieter, said his son was thrilled to represent South Africa.

For goalkeepers, South Africa will rely on Lwandiso Radebe, Ethan Garcia and Keabetswe Morake.

Radebe heads into the tournament with strong credentials after captaining Amajimbos at the African Union Sports Council Region 5 Youth Games in Namibia, where South Africa won the title by beating Malawi 3-0 in the final.

He was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament and included in the competition’s Best XI.

The defence includes Tashiel Rugunanan, Reotshepile Malete, Tristan O’Malley, Neo Mangcaka, Zazi Qotoyi, Lutho Makunga, Braythen Moffit and Tumelo Moerane.

Qotoyi arrives at the tournament after helping Cape Town City win the Engen Champs of Champs title and earning Defender of the Tournament honours.

In midfield, Khumalo selected Jesse Gewer, Inganathi Simana, Aphelele Majola and Potgieter.

The attack will be spearheaded by Mpho Molepo, Omphemetse Sekgoto, Obama Mhlongo, Ntokozo Madondo, Siyabonga Mbongo and Samkelo Mkhonto.

The full 2026 U17 AFCON draw will see hosts Morocco in Group A alongside Tunisia, Egypt and Ethiopia, while Group B contains Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Mali, Angola, Tanzania and Mozambique make up Group C.

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All public ordinary and special schools in the Western Cape will be closed on Tuesday after disaster management officials and the South African Weather Service (SAWS) recommended a province-wide shutdown because of severe weather warnings.

“In the interests of learner and teacher safety, and after extensive consultation with the Provincial Disaster Management Centre and the South African Weather Service (SAWS), a decision has been taken to close all schools in the Western Cape on Tuesday, 12 May 2026,” provincial Education MEC David Maynier said on Monday.

“This includes all public ordinary and special schools in the province,” he said. “Disaster Management and SAWS have made the recommendation based on updated weather projections and current conditions.”

The province was being hit by severe storms, including heavy rain, strong winds and flooding risks.

SAWS has issued an Orange Level 8 warning for disruptive rainfall over Cape Town and mountainous parts of Drakenstein, Stellenbosch, Breede Valley, Witzenberg and western Theewaterskloof, with flooding of roads, bridges and settlements, mudslides and fast-flowing rivers expected through Tuesday.

Maynier said the provincial government’s default position was “always to keep schools open and only close schools in exceptional circumstances, but we are mindful of the severity of the warnings in place”.

The department would continuously monitor and evaluate the situation to ensure that schools can reopen as soon as possible, he said, adding that schools were currently expected to reopen on Wednesday, 13 May.

Maynier said that, as of 3h30 on Monday, 11 May, “a total of 227 schools applied for closure in addition to the closure list issued for the Cape Winelands and Eden and Central Karoo districts”.

“A number of schools have also suffered damage due to the storm, which is currently being assessed,” he said.

Maynier thanked officials, principals, teachers and parents “for the support in implementing school closures.”

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Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says more than 2,500 young people trained in plumbing, welding, carpentry, electrical work and construction will be deployed to help repair Gauteng’s schools, hospitals and public infrastructure as part of the province’s Unemployed Youth Skills Development Initiative (UYSDI).

Speaking at a graduation ceremony for participants of the programme on Sunday, Lesufi said the initiative was aimed at tackling youth unemployment while addressing deteriorating infrastructure across the province.

“Over 2,600 of these young people will have the skills that will make them sustainable forever,” Lesufi said.

The graduates received certificates after completing hands-on training at 71 technical high schools across Gauteng.

Lesufi said the provincial government wanted to move away from relying on tenders to fix infrastructure problems and instead use trained young people to carry out maintenance work.

“We want to send you to all our schools in Gauteng. Welding is needed where? Carpentry is needed where? So that we fix this problem using your skills, not using tenders, because tenders are creating problems for ourselves,” he said.

He added that graduates would also be deployed to hospitals to repair damaged ceilings, paving, fencing and other infrastructure issues.

“We don’t need a tender for that. We need skills for that. And we need young people to go and assist us to change their lives forever,” Lesufi said.

The premier also announced plans to expand the programme from 2,600 participants to 5,000.

“I want more. We are moving from 2,600. I want 5,000 now,” he said.

Some graduates shared emotional testimonies about how the programme had changed their lives.

Participant Sibusiso Ngcobo said the training restored his confidence after struggling with unemployment.

“It wasn’t easy. We all remember how it was being unemployed, especially as a gent. It’s not easy,” Ngcobo said.

He said he recently used his electrical training to help repair faulty wiring at a neighbour’s home in Soweto.

“So, Mr Premier, you didn’t just give us skills. You gave us purpose, and I’m grateful for that,” he said.

Another graduate, Thapelo Gumede, said he had dropped out of school in Grade 11 and had struggled to find opportunities before joining the programme.

“After receiving this programme, I feel like my life is changing,” Gumede said.

Lesufi said the province intended to use skilled young people in future infrastructure projects, including the planned high-speed rail line between Gauteng and Limpopo.

“There is a speed train that will move from here to Polokwane in 67 minutes. When we build that train, I don’t want anyone to hire somewhere else; they are going to hire you,” he said.

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University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) staff member Dr Phumelele Basi has completed a PhD in Gender Education at the age of 25, making her the youngest doctoral graduate at the university’s Autumn graduation.

Basi’s doctoral study, titled “Negotiating Heterosexual Relationships on Campus: Female Students’ Sexual Practices, Desire, Pleasure and Risk at a South African University”, was completed in two years and approved without corrections.

The achievement follows what UKZN said was a “consistent record of academic excellence”, including cum laude and summa cum laude distinctions throughout her undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

Basi was raised in Hlokozi, a rural community on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast. Her academic journey, according to the university, reflects resilience, intellectual curiosity and a commitment to understanding gender and social justice in contemporary society.

She initially intended to pursue science education, but her academic path changed after she encountered gender studies during her undergraduate studies. She became interested in how gender is shaped by cultural norms, social expectations and lived experiences, later developing a focus on identity, relationships and power.

That interest deepened during her master’s research, which examined the links between social media, gender, sexuality and power in shaping ideas about beauty and self-worth. The study later led her to explore how young Black African women negotiate and express their sexualities within higher education institutions.

Her doctoral research challenges dominant narratives that frame young women’s heterosexual relationships mainly through risk and vulnerability. Instead, Basi’s work presents a more nuanced account of the pressures and pleasures that shape these relationships.

Through interviews and participatory workshops with female students, the research found that socio-cultural expectations, economic realities and institutional environments influence experiences of desire, agency and harm. Basi said she hopes the work will help inform interventions that promote gender equality and safer campus environments.

She was mentored and supervised by leading scholars, including Professor Deevia Bhana, who supervised both her master’s and PhD studies.

Basi currently works as a research assistant, a role the university said continues to strengthen her academic skills while allowing her to contribute to ongoing scholarly projects.

She now plans to pursue postdoctoral studies with the South African Research Chairs Initiative Chair in Gender and Childhood Sexuality and build a career in academia through teaching and research in Gender Education.

Her advice to aspiring scholars is to “embrace the process, remain resilient in the face of challenges, and recognise the transformative potential of knowledge”.

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Several no-fee and low-fee schools in the Western Cape have received “good” or “outstanding” ratings in independent school evaluations.

This is according to the province’s Schools Evaluation Authority (SEA) 2024/25 annual report, which was presented to the Standing Committee on Education in the provincial legislature this week.

The province’s education department said the SEA’s six lead evaluators and 10 evaluators undertook 90 school evaluations and three monitoring visits during the year under review.

“The SEA, which is unique to the Western Cape, seeks to improve school quality by increasing school accountability,” the department said.

“The purpose of the SEA is to conduct independent evaluations of schools, identify areas for improvement, and make recommendations to the school so that they can focus their efforts accordingly.”

The SEA said its independence reassures parents and schools that its findings and recommendations are aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning.

The SEA evaluates schools across five key areas: learner achievement, quality of teaching and learning, behaviour and safety, leadership and management, and governance, parents and community.

“Schools are allocated a rating for each area, as well as overall, with detailed comments provided on the school’s performance. The rating categories are “inadequate” (1), “requires improvement” (2), “good” (3), and “outstanding” (4),” SEA said.

The evaluation reports are published on the SEA website, allowing parents to access information about their child’s school performance.

“One of the biggest takeaways from the SEA’s report is that there is excellence to be found throughout our province’s school system, across geographical areas and school quintiles,” SEA said.

Among the schools highlighted was the Centre of Science and Technology, known as COSAT, a no-fee quintile 3 school in Khayelitsha, which was recognised for outstanding learner achievement and its strong emphasis on language proficiency across grades.

The evaluation found that the school benefited from a strong foundation of skilled teachers, contributing to high levels of learner engagement.

Spine Road High School, a low-fee quintile 5 school in Mitchell’s Plain, was recognised for strong leadership and consistently strong learning outcomes.

“The school’s Grade 12 teaching was highlighted as outstanding, ensuring learners at Spine Road are well prepared for matriculation and future careers,” SEA said.

Steenberg’s Cove Primêre Skool, a no-fee quintile 2 school in St Helena Bay, was also acknowledged for providing a safe and stable environment that offers hope and opportunity to the surrounding rural community.

“The school sets clear and consistent expectations, valuing respect and positive problem-solving,” the organisation said.

“There are countless other examples that show that, while there is still much work to be done, our schools can achieve quality learning outcomes no matter what challenges they face.”

SEA Chief Evaluator David Millar said the reports strengthened accountability by giving school management teams, districts, and school governing bodies shared reference points to monitor progress and hold one another accountable.

“SEA reports offer actionable recommendations: specific, practical next steps (not vague advice) which enable schools to translate findings into real improvement,” Millar said.

“Of course, SEA reports focus on what matters most. By prioritising key issues, our reports show schools what to focus on instead of spreading improvement efforts too thinly.”

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Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela said on Friday South Africa still lacked a coherent national system to identify the skills its economy needs, warning that fragmented planning was weakening efforts to tackle unemployment and youth exclusion.

Speaking at the inauguration of the PSETA–University of Johannesburg Public Sector Skills Planning Research Observatory, Manamela said South Africa’s skills planning system had long suffered from weak coordination, duplication and poor integration between institutions.

“Does the South African state actually know what its economy needs? Does it know what its citizens require? Does it know what skills it must build, and where, and by when, and for whom?” Manamela said.

“The honest answer is: not well enough.”

Manamela said the new observatory should form part of a national effort to build a single skills intelligence system capable of helping government, universities, SETAs and research bodies plan for future labour market needs.

“A state that cannot see its own labour market cannot plan its own future. Skills intelligence is therefore not back-office work. It is sovereign work,” he said.

He said South Africa was facing a period of rapid change driven by digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the just energy transition, demographic shifts and global instability. At home, he said, unemployment, inequality, poverty, weak state capacity and youth exclusion remained persistent challenges.

“More than three million young people remain outside employment, education and training. That is not a statistic. It is a condition that produces, every single day, the kind of question that young woman asked me,” Manamela said, referring to a young woman at a Community Education and Training centre who had asked who decided which courses were offered and whether they would lead to jobs.

He said skills planning could no longer be treated as a compliance exercise and had to become a strategic tool for national development.

“For too long, our skills planning systems have suffered from fragmentation, duplication and weak coordination,” Manamela said.

“We have multiple data sources that do not speak to one another. We have Workplace Skills Plans and Sector Skills Plans that have, in too many cases, become exercises in reporting rather than instruments of decision-making.”

Manamela said the country had critical skills shortages alongside graduates unable to find pathways into employment, while industrial policy, economic planning, public sector reform and the skills system often produced separate assessments of what the country needed.

“Improving the data alone will not solve this. What is required is institutional integration and a shared national skills intelligence capability,” he said.

He said the Human Resource Development Council would be repositioned at the centre of a single national skills intelligence architecture, with sectoral observatories such as the PSETA–UJ initiative serving as specialised nodes within that system.

“South Africa cannot afford many competing claims to national skills intelligence,” he said.

“They are nodes: specialised, expert, sectorally focused, feeding into a coherent national capability. They are not, and must not become, parallel claims to the function.”

Manamela said the DHET would retain responsibility for coordinating the post-school education and training system, but would work with SETAs, universities, TVET and CET colleges, SAQA, the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, the Council on Higher Education, the National School of Government, organised labour and business.

He said the observatory could help South Africa move from reactive to anticipatory planning by forecasting occupational demand, tracking labour market changes and identifying emerging competencies before shortages became crises.

It could also support the professionalisation of the public service by mapping skills gaps, career pathways and workforce planning needs, he said.

“A capable, ethical and developmental state requires more than slogans. It requires competency frameworks, structured career pathways, and evidence-based workforce planning,” Manamela said.

He said the future public service would be more digital, data-driven, and analytically demanding, but warned that technology alone would not improve service delivery without the right human capability.

“This is not primarily a technology story. It is a capability story. It is about whether South Africa builds a state that can use digital tools to deliver services better, or one that procures digital systems and continues to deliver services badly,” he said.

Manamela said the skills intelligence system South Africa needed did not yet exist, but was being built through the Human Resource Development Council, SETAs, universities, research councils and observatories such as the one launched at UJ.

“The honest answer to [the student], the answer I want to be able to give in five years’ time is that those decisions are no longer made in fragments,” he said.

“That they are made on the basis of a national skills intelligence system that actually sees the economy, that actually sees its citizens, and that actually plans for both.”

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Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli has handed over a Huawei-supported cyber lab at her former school in Upington, saying the facility would help learners in an underserved community access digital learning and prepare for the future economy.

Speaking during the handover ceremony at Paballelo Senior Secondary School, Mhlauli said the occasion was deeply personal as the school played a major role in shaping her future.

“This school holds a very special place in my heart because this is the very school from which I matriculated. Returning here today, as Deputy Minister in the Presidency, is both humbling and emotional,” she said.

“I am very glad to be back at the institution that helped shape my journey and laid the foundation for my future.”

Mhlauli said coming back to the school reminded her of the dreams learners carried and the educators who encouraged them to strive for success despite challenges.

The event also coincided with the 30th anniversary of the adoption of South Africa’s Constitution, which Mhlauli described as an important milestone for the country’s democracy.

“This milestone invites all of us, especially young people, to reflect on where this country comes from and where it is going,” she said.

“It reminds us of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom, dignity, equality and justice so that future generations could enjoy opportunities that many were once denied.”

Mhlauli also stressed the importance of the Department of Basic Education’s review of the history curriculum, saying young people must understand the country’s past in order to build a stronger future.

“History is not only about remembering where we come from, it is also about shaping the kind of future we want to build together as South Africans,” she said.

She described the handover of the cyber lab as more than just an official event, calling it “a meaningful investment in the future of the young people of this community”.

Mhlauli thanked Huawei for partnering with government and the school to support education and digital development.

“Partnerships such as these demonstrate the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in creating opportunities for our learners,” she said.

She added that education remained one of the most powerful tools to transform lives and fight inequality.

Addressing learners directly, Mhlauli encouraged them not to allow their circumstances to limit their ambitions.

“Your circumstances do not define your destiny. I stand before you today as proof that greatness can emerge from this very school and this very community,” she said.

“Remain disciplined, work hard, respect your educators and parents, and never stop believing in your potential.”

She also urged learners to make full use of the new cyber lab and the opportunities it could unlock.

“To the matric class of 2026, I want to encourage you to make full use of the opportunities that this new lab and its resources will provide,” she said.

“Use this facility to research career opportunities, apply to universities and colleges on time, and prepare yourselves for the future economy. Technology is a gateway to opportunity, and you must use it to unlock your full potential.”

Mhlauli further encouraged learners of the appropriate age to register to vote and actively participate in democracy.

“Your voice matters, your future matters, and your participation in our democracy matters,” she said.

“Young people must play an active role in shaping the future of our country. Do not wait until others make decisions on your behalf.”

She also thanked Huawei Deputy CEO Charles Cheng for supporting education initiatives in the country.

“Your contribution today will make a meaningful difference in the lives of many learners at Paballelo High School,” she said.

Mhlauli said government remained committed to improving educational outcomes and ensuring learners in underserved communities have access to opportunities and resources that prepare them for the future.

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The Department of Basic Education (DBE), together with the Northern Cape Department of Education, honoured top-performing schools and districts on Friday during the 2025/26 National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Best Schools and Districts Awards, with officials praising schools for sustaining learner support despite mounting financial pressures in the education sector.

The awards ceremony, hosted at Laerskool Seodin, in Kuruman on Friday, recognised excellence in the implementation of the programme which provides daily meals to millions of learners across South Africa.

Deputy Minister of Basic Education Reginah Mhaule, Northern Cape Education MEC Abraham Vosloo and executive mayor of the Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality, Neo Masegela, attended the ceremony to honour schools, districts and officials involved in the programme.

In her keynote address, Mhaule began by extending condolences to families and communities affected by recent flooding in parts of the Northern Cape.

“Today, although in sombre spirits due to the loss of life and livelihoods negatively affected by the floods, we celebrate the impact of the National School Nutrition Programme, which continues to play a vital role in ensuring that no learner is left behind,” she said.

Mhaule said the awards highlighted the dedication of officials, food handlers and administrators responsible for ensuring the success of the programme in schools across the country.

“The NSNP awards are not just about recognition; they are about celebrating the passion, innovation, and creativity that are driving this programme forward,” she said.

“Whether it is through the outstanding efforts of our school nutrition coordinators, the skillful preparation of meals by our dedicated Food Handlers or the excellence of the administrators who ensure that everything runs smoothly, you are all champions of this cause,” Mhaule added.

She described the awards as a small but meaningful way to honour the schools’ dedication and highlight the extraordinary work that happens at the ground level to make the programme a success.

“It is your commitment that inspires others and helps to create a ripple effect of positive change in our communities,” Mhaule said.

The deputy minister also called on government institutions, communities and private partners to continue working together to ensure learners are adequately supported.

Delivering the welcoming address, Mayor Masegela commended schools for ensuring conducive learning environments through effective implementation of the nutrition programme.

He applauded schools for “their dedication to providing conducive environments for effective learning, through ensuring efficient implementation of the National School Nutrition Programme”.

Vosloo used the occasion to stress that the Northern Cape government had protected the programme from spending cuts despite budget constraints affecting the broader education sector.

“We must never cut NSNP. Critical times that we are currently facing: budget cuts. We are suffering because of budget cuts. But the NSNP has never been cut,” said Vosloo.

The MEC said 85% of schools in the province benefit from the programme, with about 275,000 learners receiving meals daily.

According to figures presented during the ceremony, the Northern Cape has 551 schools in total, with 498 schools benefiting from the provincial nutrition programme.

Vosloo said quintile four and five schools were also included among beneficiaries, reaching between 79,000 and 100,000 learners in those categories.

“Almost 85% of the schools in the province benefit from the NSNP,” he said.

Chief Director for Provincial School Management, Administration and Support, Sandile Beuzana, said the awards aimed to recognise and encourage excellence in education support systems.

“Today’s gathering stands as a powerful reminder that when we uplift education, we uplift generations; and when we recognize excellence, we pave the way for even greater achievements,” Beuzana said.

“The Best School Awards exist to affirm a simple yet powerful truth: Excellence in education must be seen, acknowledged, rewarded, and most importantly, replicated,” he added.

The Namakwa Education District was announced as the winner in the Best District category.

Van Zylsrus Intermediate School won the Best Farm School category, while Isaac Mhlambi Primary School received top honours as the overall winner in the Best School category.

The department said the awards sought to encourage innovation and accountability in school nutrition delivery while recognising institutions that consistently improve learner welfare through effective implementation of the programme.

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Organisers commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto uprising have launched a nationwide campaign aimed at honouring the legacy of the student revolt while reviving youth activism and civic participation ahead of the 2026 milestone.

The Seth Mazibuko Foundation unveiled its “1976@50” programme at the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Orlando West last week, bringing together struggle veterans, political figures, artists and young people at the site synonymous with the June 16 uprising against apartheid-era education policies.

Led by uprising leader Seth Mazibuko, the initiative will include concerts, academic forums, youth dialogues and heritage projects under the theme “Finishing What Was Started”.

“The spirit of 1976 still exists 50 years after the atrocities of June 16,” Mazibuko said at the launch. “It is a spirit and an idea that Steve Biko said would never die.”

The foundation said it had partnered with organisations including the Kagiso Trust, Constitution Hill, the Robben Island Museum and the National Heritage Council of South Africa to coordinate the commemorations.

Organisers said American R&B singer Syleena Johnson would collaborate with South African artist Yvonne Chaka Chaka on a commemorative theme song, while a documentary and feature film on the uprising were also planned.

A Unity Concert scheduled for June 14, 2026, will feature performers including Sipho Mabuse, Marah Louw and PJ Powers.

Academic institutions including University of the Witwatersrand and University of Johannesburg are expected to host colloquiums examining the political and social impact of the 1976 uprising.

Neo Merafi, founder of Maverick Brand Communications and a lead organiser of the campaign, said the anniversary should serve as a catalyst for addressing challenges facing South Africa’s youth.

“While the youth of 1976 were the dawn of liberation, the youth of 2026 are the dawn of reconstruction,” Merafi said.

“They are facing their own catastrophic struggles — economic exclusion, political disillusionment and systemic inequality.”

Merafi said the campaign would focus on practical initiatives including youth employment, civic education and voter participation, alongside efforts to preserve oral histories and create a permanent digital archive documenting the events of 1976.

Organisers also plan intergenerational dialogues between members of the “class of 1976” and the “class of 2026”, culminating in a proposed National Youth Manifesto to be presented to the president on Youth Day in 2026.

The public has been invited to gather at Confrontation Corner in Soweto on June 16, 2026, for a symbolic march to Orlando Stadium marking five decades since the uprising that helped galvanise resistance to apartheid.

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Former Auditor-General Terence Nombembe has been appointed chairperson of the University of the Witwatersrand Council for a three-year term, with the option of renewal, the university said on Thursday.

Nombembe was the first black South African to serve as Auditor-General in the institution’s 100-year history and brings extensive experience in governance, ethics and public accountability to the role.

Wits Chancellor Judy Dlamini welcomed the appointment, describing Nombembe as “a wise, accessible and ethical leader”.

“We are pleased to welcome Mr Nombembe to Wits. We look forward to working with him,” Dlamini said.

Nombembe said he was honoured to take up the position and committed to strengthening governance in higher education.

“I am pleased to serve in this role and I look forward to building on the strong governance foundation that Council has established,” he said.

Nombembe served as chief executive of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants from 2014 to 2019.

In 2018, he joined the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, known as the Zondo Commission, as head of investigations, serving until the commission concluded its work in 2022.

He also served on the board of the South African Reserve Bank until 2023 and completed his tenure as chairperson of the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council in 2024.

“These roles have placed me in good stead to accept this key position in higher education. I believe that universities have a role to play in sustainable nation building and we must safeguard against leadership override of good governance and internal controls,” Nombembe said.

Nombembe holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Transkei and a BCompt Honours degree from the University of South Africa. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1990.

His career includes senior roles at KPMG, Unilever South Africa and BP Southern Africa, where he gained experience in auditing, financial management and corporate governance.

He has received several honours for ethical leadership and public service, including the Jörg Kandutsch Excellence Award from the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions, as well as honorary doctorates from Walter Sisulu University and the University of Pretoria.

Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal Zeblon Vilakazi described Nombembe as a leader of “exceptional integrity and distinction”.

“We are honoured to welcome him and look forward to working with him in advancing Wits’ mission of academic excellence and societal impact,” Vilakazi said.

The university said Nombembe’s experience and principled approach to governance aligned closely with Wits’ institutional values.

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Deputy Minister of Basic Education Dr Reginah Mhaule on Tuesday reiterated the department’s focus on strengthening foundational learning, with particular emphasis on literacy and numeracy.

Speaking at the Theological Short Course Workshop and launch at the University of South Africa (UNISA) in Pretoria, Mhaule said a solid foundation remained critical to the success of the education system as a whole.

She warned that weak early learning structures compromised the entire trajectory of education outcomes.

“For this reason, the department continues to strengthen early learning interventions while expanding key programmes such as mother tongue-based bilingual education, South African Sign Language, digital skills training, and improved English language instruction to ensure inclusive and quality education for all learners,” she said.

Mhaule said partnerships with higher education institutions were also central to reviewing and strengthening teacher education qualifications, as well as improving training systems.

“Partnerships with higher education institutions remain central, particularly in the review and strengthening of teacher education qualifications and the continuous improvement of training systems,” she said.

“Teachers, especially at foundation level, must be continuously trained, supported, and re-skilled, as they play a critical role in shaping learning from its earliest stages and building strong educational outcomes for the future.”

Drawing a parallel with faith-based leadership, Mhaule said ongoing development was equally important for church leaders to remain relevant in a rapidly changing environment.

“It strengthens leadership capacity in areas such as pastoral care, management, communication and conflict resolution, while also deepening spiritual maturity and practical effectiveness in guiding communities,” she said.

“Education and ongoing development are essential for effective service, responsible leadership, and meaningful transformation. I urge leaders to remain grounded in knowledge, guided by purpose, and committed to lifelong growth in both professional and spiritual capacity.”

Mhaule added that church leaders must be equipped to navigate complex social, cultural and technological realities, stressing that continuous learning was key to maintaining relevance and sound doctrine while adapting to change.

“Ultimately, continuous development, whether in education or ministry, is about strengthening foundations, sustaining relevance and preparing leaders to serve with wisdom, excellence and purpose,” she said.

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Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called for urgent and sustained investment in early childhood development (ECD), saying that South Africa and the region risk entrenching inequality before children enter formal schooling.

Gwarube was speaking at the Southern and East Africa Regional Childcare Conference in Johannesburg this week, convened by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the World Bank to discuss access to affordable, quality childcare and early learning across the region.

The conference comes as government moves to expand access to ECD services through centre registration, increased subsidies and partnerships with the private sector and philanthropic organisations.

The department said government had exceeded its target of registering 10,000 ECD centres by the end of 2025, with more than 13,300 centres registered through the Bana Pele drive.

It has also set aside R10 billion over three years to support ECD subsidies, including an increase in the subsidy from R17 to R24 per child per day.

Gwarube said investment in early learning was critical to improving education outcomes, advancing gender equality and supporting long-term economic growth.

The conference heard that inequalities in education often begin long before children enter Grade 1.

“She illustrated this through the contrasting experiences of two children, one who benefited from early learning and support, and another who did not, highlighting that disparities in opportunity, not ability, determine educational success,” the DBE said.

Gwarube pointed to research showing that many children are not developmentally on track by the time they reach school-going age, while poor nutrition and stunting continue to undermine children’s ability to learn and thrive.

“Learning does not begin in Grade 1. It begins in the earliest years of a child’s life,” Gwarube said.

“If we fail to act during this critical window, we entrench inequality before formal education even begins.”

She also highlighted government’s work with private-sector and philanthropic partners through a R496 million Early Childhood Care and Education Outcomes Fund, aimed at expanding access to quality childcare in underserved communities, including rural areas.

The fund is expected to support the creation of more than 115,000 new ECD spaces in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Limpopo.

Gwarube said childcare should be treated not only as a social priority, but also as an economic necessity, particularly because affordable and reliable childcare enables more women to enter and remain in the workforce.

The conference also focused on regional cooperation, with countries in Southern and East Africa expected to share best practice, improve quality standards and explore scalable models for childcare provision.

While Africa’s young population presents a major demographic opportunity, Gwarube warned that this potential would only be realised if governments and partners invest deliberately in children’s earliest years.

“The measure of our success must be the number of children who arrive at school ready to learn, to thrive, and to succeed,” she said.

She asked governments, development partners, civil society and the private sector to move beyond commitments and take practical steps to expand access to quality early learning and childcare.

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The decision to place the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) under administration has been slammed by student leaders and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who say it could deepen instability in the higher education funding system.

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela announced on Monday that NSFAS had been placed under administration with immediate effect, citing governance failures, audit concerns, operational weaknesses and instability within the board.

He appointed Professor Hlengani Mathebula as administrator, saying the intervention was necessary to “restore institutional credibility, operational effectiveness and public confidence”.

However, the South African Union of Students (SAUS) has rejected the decision and the process, saying that there was no consultation with student stakeholders and that conditions did not justify an intervention.

“SAUS unequivocally rejects the decision and process of placing NSFAS under administration,” the organisation said in a statement on Tuesday.

“There has never been any consultation done with the South African Union of Students as the larger stakeholder in the sector.”

The union said it had not observed governance failures severe enough to warrant administration, adding that NSFAS operations had improved in recent years.

“From the lived realities of students, NSFAS has shown measurable improvements in its operations,” SAUS said.

“While challenges persist, the scheme is significantly more functional than in previous years, and does not reflect a system in crisis warranting administration.”

Manamela, however, said the decision followed a “long process of engagement, legal assessment, governance intervention, and consideration of alternatives”, pointing to a disclaimer audit outcome, material irregularities flagged by the Auditor-General, operational weaknesses, and ongoing governance instability within the NSFAS board.

SAUS also raised concerns about the timing of the intervention, noting it came shortly after steps were taken to stabilise leadership at the scheme, including the board’s move to regularise senior management.

“The sudden imposition of an administrator undermines the role of the Board and raises serious questions about what informed this decision,” the union said.

The organisation further questioned whether the minister had complied with Section 17A of the NSFAS Act, which allows the minister to appoint an administrator where there is serious financial or other maladministration, where NSFAS’s effective functioning is seriously undermined, or where the board requests such an appointment.

“The failure to clearly demonstrate compliance with the provisions of Section 17A suggests that due process may not have been fully adhered to,” SAUS said.

The union warned that repeated interventions at NSFAS have historically failed to produce stability.

“Over the past decade, NSFAS has been subjected to repeated cycles of administrations and acting leadership,” it said.

“These interventions have not produced lasting stability, but have instead deepened uncertainty.”

SAUS also highlighted outstanding policy issues, including 2026 funding guidelines, accommodation protocols and student allowances, which it said require urgent ministerial approval.

The EFF also criticised the move.

“The EFF condemns the placement of NSFAS under administration following leadership instability, board resignations, and ongoing conflict with the Minister of Higher Education,” the party said.

The EFF said the intervention risks creating conditions for further corruption.

“The appointment of an administrator without proper oversight creates dangerous conditions for corruption and looting,” it said.

The party added that thousands of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students remain in limbo.

“More than 12,000 TVET students still have unconfirmed funding statuses while the academic year is already underway,” the EFF said.

Manamela sought to reassure students that the intervention would not disrupt funding or daily operations at NSFAS.

“Student funding will continue. Allowances will continue. Appeals processes will continue,” Manamela said, adding that the administration is a temporary measure aimed at stabilising the institution and returning it to ordinary governance.

SAUS has called on the minister to provide a “full, transparent, and lawful account” of the decision and indicated it will engage other student bodies on sector-wide challenges.

“The South African Union of Students will continue to defend the interests of students and will not remain silent in the face of decisions that risk plunging NSFAS back into instability,” the organisation said.

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