By Charmaine Ndlela
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has given the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) until 18 March to submit a detailed list of foreign academics employed at universities and colleges.
The decision follows the release of an interim report by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) into corruption in visa and permit processing at the Department of Home Affairs.
Following the report’s release, the SIU said it had “uncovered a disturbing reality”, stating that South Africa’s immigration system had been treated like a marketplace where permits and visas are sold to the highest bidder.
Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie said foreign nationals were being prioritised over qualified South Africans in hiring and promotions at some institutions.
He said there needed to be strict compliance with the Employment Services Act and Home Affairs regulations, adding that foreign academics can only be hired if their skills appear on the critical skills list and no suitable South African candidate is available.
The DHET has acknowledged the important role foreign academics play in addressing shortages, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines.
However, Letsie rejected explanations from institutions that claim foreign academics are hired because they “bring important value to the institution,” saying such justifications are not legally compliant.
“We are a country of laws. If you break the law in South Africa, you should face the music,” Letsie said.
DHET presented audited data from the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS) for 2024 to the committee, showing foreign nationals constitute 7.74% of all staff at South Africa’s public universities.
According to the data, the University of Fort Hare has the highest proportion of foreign staff at 8.28%, followed by the University of the Western Cape at 8.13%, and the University of the Witwatersrand at 8.12%.
The committee has warned that employing foreign nationals without valid work authorisation can expose institutions and officials to serious consequences, including potential criminal liability under South Africa’s immigration law.
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