AdvTech Limited and Cricket South Africa (CSA) have entered into a three-year partnership aimed at expanding opportunities for young cricketers and strengthening the development pathway for men’s and women’s cricket.

Under the agreement, AdvTech will become the official sponsor of CSA’s Youth Weeks and the Proteas Women’s inbound Test series, while also serving as an associate partner of Proteas Men’s Test cricket.

CSA said the partnership will cover the National U13 Boys Week, U16 Boys and Girls Weeks, U19 Girls Week and the Khaya Majola Cricket Week, bringing education and cricket together to help young players develop both on and off the field.

“We are excited about teaming up with AdvTech. This partnership goes beyond what happens on the field,” CSA chief executive officer Pholetsi Moseki said.

“For CSA, it is important that our work has meaningful social impact, and partnering with AdvTech strengthens the connection between cricket, education and the development of young people throughout our pathway.”

The partnership is expected to provide additional support to CSA’s youth structures while contributing to the development of future cricketers and coaches.

AdvTech said CSA’s U16 and U19 Youth Weeks brought together 850 players from all nine provinces in 2025, with more than 350 matches played across the competitions, highlighting the scale of the national development platform.

AdvTech’s involvement will also extend to women’s cricket, with the education group planning to introduce specialised girls’ cricket programmes at selected schools.

The initiative is intended to strengthen the pathway for young female players to progress from school cricket to the elite level.

“Our partnership with Cricket South Africa extends across the sport, from grassroots to the elite Men’s and Women’s teams,” AdvTech CEO Geoff Whyte said.

“It represents a powerful investment into South Africa’s most inclusive sporting code that will also significantly benefit our brands.”

AdvTech operates across primary, secondary and tertiary education, as well as training and placement, and said the partnership provides an opportunity to leverage its position in the education sector to support sporting development.

CSA said the partnership aligns with its broader objective of developing a sustainable cricket pathway, from the KFC Mini-Cricket programme and Youth Weeks through to the professional game.

By combining AdvTech’s education expertise with CSA’s national cricket development structures, the three-year agreement is expected to support the next generation of South African cricketers while emphasising the importance of education alongside sporting excellence.

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Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Nomusa Dube-Ncube has called for greater industry involvement in shaping vocational education, including curricula, workplace learning and the assessment of practical competence, rather than only receiving graduates after they complete their studies.

Dube-Ncube was speaking on Tuesday at the Skills for Industry: South Africa-Finland Exchange on Vocational Education and Skills Development at SARATEC, located at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology campus, where she appeared alongside Finland’s Minister of Education Anders Adlercreutz.

“Today is the foundation for something more strategic and enduring: a partnership that embraces the full potential of TVET to power South Africa’s economy,” Dube-Ncube said.

She said the engagement came at a significant time, with August marking both Women’s Month in South Africa and TVET Month, which is commemorated by the Department of Higher Education and Training.

She said the convergence was fitting as TVET colleges embody specialised training, blended teaching and learning, and capacitated lecturers as foundations of quality vocational education.

“‘From Skills to Jobs’ captures one of the most important questions facing education systems worldwide,” she said.

Dube-Ncube said South Africa’s response was the Skills Revolution, a commitment made by President Cyril Ramaphosa this year to shift towards practical, future-focused and industry-relevant occupational education.

She said this included incorporating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) disciplines while responding to the demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“Our task, together, is to design pathways that are sound today and adaptable tomorrow. This is where Finland’s experience becomes particularly instructive,” she said.

Dube-Ncube said skills must have a destination and that the success of vocational education should ultimately be measured by what happens after training, including employment, entrepreneurship, further learning and adaptability.

“These are the questions that should shape how we design vocational education,” she said.

“Our ambition is to move from Education → Graduate → Employer, to Education and Industry → Skills → Work → Lifelong Learning.”

She highlighted Finland’s focus on modular learning, recognition of prior learning and continuous reskilling as valuable lessons for South Africa.

Dube-Ncube questioned whether existing pathways are flexible enough to enable people to acquire the competencies they need at different stages of their careers, particularly as occupations and technologies evolve rapidly.

“Today’s partnership with Metso is a welcome example of what we hope to scale: stronger, more deliberate connections between companies, TVET colleges, universities, SETAs, government, and learners,” she said.

She outlined three questions to guide the discussion: what skills industries will need over the next five to 10 years; how partnerships can be redesigned so industry is genuinely involved in producing those skills; and what practical cooperation between South Africa and Finland could help accelerate progress.

“South Africa approaches this partnership with genuine hope and confidence. We are eager to learn from Finland’s experience, and we bring our own innovations and resilience in return,” she said.

“Our ambition is that when we meet again, we can point to specific institutions collaborating, specific learners who have benefited, specific educators capacitated, and specific industries active in training.”

Adlercreutz highlighted the importance of strengthening collaboration between governments, education institutions and industry to ensure vocational education and training remains responsive to changing labour-market needs and supports economic growth.

“We are, as we know, living in a time of rapid technological change, demographic shifts and evolving labour market needs,” Adlercreutz said.

He said globalisation, the green transition, digitalisation, automation and the rapid development of artificial intelligence were transforming industries and creating unprecedented demand for new skills.

He said vocational education was increasingly important in preparing people for meaningful employment and life.

“Vocational education and training should no longer be viewed merely as a second choice or an alternative pathway to academic studies,” he said.

“Today technical and vocational skills are recognised as key drivers of economic competitiveness, social inclusion and sustainable development.”

Adlercreutz said high-quality vocational education provides learners with practical skills, professional competence and the ability to adapt to changing work environments, while supporting employers through a skilled workforce and greater innovation.

He said countries, including Finland, were facing changing skills requirements as technologies, industries and societies evolve.

Addressing these changes required strong cooperation between governments, education institutions and employers to ensure education systems remained responsive to the needs of learners, workplaces and economies, he said.

“Through vocational education and training, apprenticeships and workplace-based learning opportunities, young people and adults can develop relevant skills, improve their employability and enter the workforce with confidence,” he said.

“By strengthening vocational education, we are not only creating pathways to decent work, but also supporting economic growth and a more inclusive future.”

Adlercreutz said Finland had developed a vocational education system that was highly valued nationally and internationally, with its learner-centred approach among its key strengths.

He said education institutions and employers must work together to ensure training reflects actual workplace needs.

“Practical learning is combined with classroom-based education as students gain experience through flexible workplace learning periods adapted to different sectors, employers and learners,” he said.

“Educational institutions and teachers remain responsible for guiding the overall learning process and ensuring that learning outcomes are achieved.”

He said longer internship or apprenticeship models could provide valuable learning opportunities, but required companies to have sufficient resources, skilled supervisors and the capacity to integrate students into daily work while supporting their learning.

Flexible models combining workplace learning with guidance from educational institutions could help ensure learners gain meaningful practical experience while maintaining education quality, he said.

“Our challenge is to ensure that vocational excellence receives the same respect, recognition and investment as academic excellence,” Adlercreutz said.

He said vocational education should be viewed as an equal and respected educational pathway, while education systems must remain flexible enough to respond to changing labour-market needs and different learner backgrounds.

Strong partnerships between education institutions, employers and policymakers were also essential to ensuring relevance and quality, he said.

“Life and learning must become a part of every educational system,” he said.

“We are far beyond the point where you graduate into a profession and retire from the same one 30-40 years later. International cooperation is at its best when experiences and perspectives are shared in both directions.”

Adlercreutz said the exchange provided an opportunity for Finland and South Africa to share experiences and explore how education systems could better respond to changing skills needs.

He said South Africa’s experience of developing education in a diverse and multicultural society also offered valuable lessons for Finland as it considered how education systems could create opportunities for learners from different backgrounds.

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More than 40,000 students at 76 higher education institutions were improperly funded by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), at a cost of approximately R5.1 billion, with more than R2 billion recovered so far, Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka said on Tuesday.

The figures form part of an investigation by the Public Protector into systemic maladministration at NSFAS, which found that failures in the student financial aid system went beyond administrative shortcomings and caused direct and foreseeable harm to students.

Gcaleka made the findings while briefing the media in Pretoria on the progress of her systemic investigation into alleged maladministration at NSFAS.

She said information presented by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts was among the developments that raised concerns about NSFAS and contributed to the investigation.

The investigation found that allegations of systemic deficiencies in the administration, governance, funding, coordination and oversight of student financial aid were substantiated.

Gcaleka said students had experienced recurring delays in funding decisions, appeal outcomes and allowance payments, with the consequences extending beyond inconvenience.

“These delays caused direct and foreseeable prejudice, including food insecurity, accommodation instability and exposure to unsafe living conditions,” she said.

The investigation found that the problems affecting students were not isolated incidents but reflected recurring failures across the higher education sector.

The Public Protector said the investigation began after complaints against NSFAS concerning administrative deficiencies affecting students’ access to financial aid and, consequently, higher education.

However, as the investigation progressed, the office identified broader systemic challenges, including inadequate access to tuition funding, inefficiencies in existing funding mechanisms, delays in allowance payments and problems with the administration of funding criteria.

“The recurrence and consistency of these concerns strongly suggested the existence of systemic rather than isolated administrative deficiencies,” Gcaleka said.

The investigation also found persistent instability at NSFAS, which the Public Protector said had weakened the entity’s ability to fulfil its statutory mandate effectively.

The office pointed to leadership and governance disruptions dating back several years, including the suspension and termination of former CEO Andile Nongogo in 2023, the dissolution of the NSFAS board in 2024 and renewed governance difficulties after a new board was appointed in 2025.

NSFAS has also been placed under administration three times in the past eight years — in 2018, 2024 and 2026.

The Public Protector said independent reviews, including a 2021 Ministerial Committee of Inquiry, had found that NSFAS had operated in a “near-permanent state of crisis”.

Gcaleka said the instability had contributed to repeated failures in the administration of student funding.

“The evidence gathered depicts NSFAS as an institution affected by persistent governance instability, administrative weakness and inadequate systems,” she said.

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela welcomed the Public Protector’s report, saying its findings were consistent with longstanding concerns about NSFAS.

“The issues identified in the report are not new. They are among the longstanding governance, administrative and operational challenges at NSFAS that have been a matter of concern to the Minister,” Manamela said.

He said these challenges had contributed to his decision to place NSFAS under administration.

The investigation found that students continued to face delays in funding confirmations, allowance payments and appeals.

The Public Protector also raised concerns about NSFAS’s ability to assist students when they sought help.

NSFAS reported that it was unable to resolve 80% of queries received through its contact centre without escalating them to internal units.

The Public Protector found that the entity’s limited accessibility and ineffective query-resolution arrangements undermined students’ ability to obtain assistance on matters directly affecting their access to higher education.

Gcaleka said NSFAS’s limited accessibility had affected its ability to provide students with effective assistance.

“The inability to establish accessible and responsive administrative mechanisms capable of providing students with effective assistance in relation to matters that directly affect their constitutional right to further education, is in conflict with section 195(1)(e) and (g) of the Constitution,” she said.

The investigation further found that delays in eligibility verification were linked to NSFAS’s reliance on third-party data sources and weak interfaces with institutions and state entities such as Home Affairs, SASSA and SARS.

These weaknesses contributed to delays in funding determinations and resolving eligibility disputes.

Mid-year defunding and funding reversals were also found to have caused serious disruption to students who had already enrolled and started their studies.

The Public Protector said such decisions exposed students to severe financial, academic and personal prejudice, particularly where funding was withdrawn after the academic year had begun.

The investigation found that NSFAS needed to address eligibility verification delays and ensure that students received timely decisions, adequate notice and an opportunity to respond before adverse funding decisions were implemented.

Appeal backlogs added to the problem, with students left unable to secure support while waiting for their cases to be resolved.

The investigation also criticised the pace at which government had implemented recommendations contained in the 2022 Ministerial Task Team report on student funding.

The Public Protector found that three years after the report was tabled before Cabinet, limited progress had been made in converting its recommendations into an operational and coherent funding reform programme.

“Three years after the report was tabled to Cabinet, the evidence indicates limited progress in converting the recommendations into an operational and coherent funding reform programme,” Gcaleka said.

The so-called “missing middle” was among the unresolved issues.

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) reported that NSFAS had been capitalised with R3 billion over a three-year cycle from 2024 to 2027 to support students in this category.

However, despite receiving 43,261 applications from students eligible for the funding, NSFAS could not roll it out because it needed to procure a new loan system.

The Public Protector also found that recommendations on funding postgraduate studies had not been implemented.

Gcaleka said the collective conduct of NSFAS and DHET impaired the practical realisation of the constitutional right to further education and constituted maladministration.

Manamela said the findings were consistent with concerns raised in a report he received earlier this month from NSFAS Administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula, which identified a range of challenges requiring urgent intervention.

He said his concerns about NSFAS had also intensified after a March meeting with the Auditor-General of South Africa over the scheme’s financial management and governance.

The Auditor-General had issued NSFAS with a disclaimer of opinion, with Manamela saying its accounting records and supporting evidence were so inadequate that the AGSA could not determine whether the financial statements were reliable.

“Measures to remedy the situation will continue to be explored,” Manamela said.

He said the administration of NSFAS formed part of a broader effort to restore stability, strengthen systems and ensure the scheme could fulfil its mandate.

The investigation is now at the stage where affected and implicated parties have an opportunity to respond to the Public Protector’s notice before the findings and proposed remedial action are finalised.

The parties have 60 calendar days from receipt of the notice to submit written representations, including any records, information or evidence they want the Public Protector to consider.

Gcaleka cautioned that the findings contained in the notice are not yet final and may change after the affected parties have made their representations.

The Public Protector has proposed several remedial measures, including requiring NSFAS to clear appeal backlogs, strengthen financial controls and improve its systems for processing funding decisions.

NSFAS would also be required to identify officials or former officials responsible for governance breaches, maladministration and control failures that caused prejudice to students, with consequence management to follow where warranted.

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The University of Cape Town (UCT) Council has suspended four resolutions concerning Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela pending the outcome of his judicial review application in the Western Cape High Court.

The decision follows a special Council meeting held on Saturday to consider the legal proceedings brought by Moshabela against four resolutions adopted by Council on 30 May.

Council said it had considered legal advice on the matter before resolving to suspend the implementation of the four resolutions pending the final determination of the judicial review proceedings.

The latest development comes after an investigation whose mandate ultimately encompassed 34 complaints concerning Moshabela, according to his court papers.

Council reportedly decided against instituting disciplinary proceedings against the Vice-Chancellor following the investigation, but adopted four separate resolutions concerning him. Moshabela is challenging those four resolutions, Resolutions 3 to 6, in court. The separate resolution not to institute disciplinary proceedings is not part of his challenge.

The dispute has also brought renewed attention to complaints recorded by UCT’s Ombud, Nashira Abrahams.

According to Moshabela’s court papers, UCT Council member Malcolm Campbell informed the Vice-Chancellor on 30 June 2025 that the Ombud had received 21 complaints from staff relating to his “interactions with them”.

By December 2025, the Ombud had recorded 39 visits by staff and students concerning Moshabela, with eight matters marked as closed and 31 as open.

The court documents caution that these 39 recorded visits do not necessarily represent 39 different complainants.

Six of the open matters were categorised as three sexual harassment complaints, two complaints relating to discrimination based on culture and one relating to discrimination based on gender.

Council adopted a resolution on 14 February 2026 mandating that the 31 open matters be formally investigated.

UCT has said that it is constrained in what it can disclose publicly because of confidentiality obligations relating to matters before the Ombud and Council, as well as the ongoing court proceedings.

In its statement issued following Saturday’s meeting, Council said it would first follow the preliminary processes prescribed by the Rules of Court and await Moshabela’s supplementation of his court papers before deciding whether to oppose the review application.

Council also confirmed that it was willing to participate in mediation in an effort to resolve the dispute.

The decision to suspend the four resolutions means that the measures adopted by Council on 30 May will not be implemented while Moshabela’s legal challenge is before the High Court.

Council said its decision was intended to ensure that the litigation is handled in an “orderly, fair and legally appropriate manner”.

Council chairperson Norman Arendse said the governing body remained committed to protecting the rights of all parties involved, including UCT officers and institutions and the office of the Ombud.

“Council remains committed to acting in the best interests of UCT and to discharging its governance responsibilities in accordance with the law, the principles of fairness and accountability, and the values of the university,” Arendse said.

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The University of the Free State (UFS) has ceremonially handed back to the South African Academy for Science and the Arts (SAAWK) an archival collection documenting more than a century of the Akademie’s history and its role in the development of Afrikaans language, literature, the arts and science, as the two institutions move to digitise the material for wider research access.

Established in Bloemfontein in 1909, the SAAWK has played a significant role in the development and standardisation of Afrikaans in the fields of language, literature, the arts and, later, science and technology.

More than a century after its establishment, the Akademie’s archival collection is entering a new phase as the institutions collaborate on its digitisation, creating wider access to material that has been preserved at the UFS for more than 50 years.

The collection was entrusted to the UFS under an agreement concluded between the two institutions in 1972. Since then, the university has been responsible for its safekeeping, preservation, arrangement, description and access for research.

On 13 August 2026, the UFS and SAAWK marked the next stage of their longstanding relationship with the ceremonial handover of the collection and the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement that will facilitate continued collaboration on its digitisation.

For SAAWK Chief Executive Officer Dr Annelise de Vries, the collection provides an important window into the Akademie’s history and the development of Afrikaans as a language capable of carrying scholarship and scientific knowledge.

“The collection gives us an opportunity to look at the history of language planning and how Afrikaans developed into a language that could be used in science and scholarship,” she said.

“By making this material accessible through digitisation, we can create new opportunities for research and for understanding that history.”

The digitisation project is expected to take the collection beyond the confines of its physical archive, allowing researchers and students to engage more easily with material that has historically been primarily accessible through the University’s archival facilities.

Prof Vasu Reddy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Postgraduate Studies at UFS, described the occasion as an important milestone for both institutions.

“This event is historic and important,” Reddy said.

“The Akademie Collection is more than a collection. It is both a record of our intellectual past and a resource that will help shape responsible societal futures.”

Reddy said the partnership also demonstrated how heritage and scholarship could be brought together to support future knowledge creation.

“It is also about strengthening a partnership that connects heritage, scholarship, and future knowledge creation with one of our oldest Science Councils,” he said.

“I see this digitisation initiative as an investment in future scholarship, opening new pathways for research, discovery, and public engagement.”

For the UFS Library and Information Services (LIS), caring for the collection over the past five decades has involved balancing preservation with the need to make the material accessible to researchers.

Charlie Molepo, Head of Research and Scholarly Communications at LIS, said the responsibility of preserving such a significant collection was substantial.

“It’s quite a huge responsibility, because we had to make sure that the collection is preserved in an environment that is sustainable for its long-term preservation, while also making sure that it is accessible for research, both locally and internationally,” Molepo said.

LIS has developed metadata to make the collection more discoverable and introduced measures aimed at protecting the archival material from natural and human-made disasters.

Digitisation will add another layer of preservation while significantly expanding access.

“Digitisation opens up new opportunities for access, because researchers all over the world can easily access the collection, and our students can also access it,” Molepo said.

“It also allows us to preserve it because, as technology and software change, we need to be able to adapt to those changes.”

The project also highlights the evolving relationship between the UFS and SAAWK. Rather than simply transferring responsibility for the collection, the two institutions are continuing to work together to determine how the archive can be used to support research, teaching and scholarship.

Molepo said the collaboration could create opportunities for increased research activity at the University, including postgraduate work.

“Ultimately, it opens up new opportunities for the University to have more research within the institution, whether through collaboration or supervision of postgraduate students, because the Academy also has a lot of excellent researchers,” he said.

The significance of the collection therefore extends beyond its value as a historical archive. Its digitisation could create opportunities for researchers to revisit the history of Afrikaans, language planning, scholarship and the intellectual development of South Africa through primary archival material.

For students and academics, increased digital access could also make it easier to incorporate the collection into research and teaching, while allowing scholars outside South Africa to engage with material previously accessible primarily through the physical archive.

According to the university, the handover marks a significant transition for a collection that has spent more than five decades in the care of the UFS.

Reddy said the institutions’ responsibility was not simply to protect the past, but to ensure that the archive continued to contribute to contemporary scholarship.

“Our responsibility is not only to safeguard the archives, but to activate them as living resources for learning, research, and public understanding,” he said.

“When we preserve knowledge and make it accessible, we create opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and lasting societal impact.”

Through the digitisation partnership, the UFS and SAAWK are seeking to ensure that an archive built over more than a century does not remain confined to history books or physical shelves, but continues to inform research and scholarship.

“Together, the UFS and SAAWK are building a legacy that honours the past, enriches the present, and inspires future generations of scholars,” Reddy said.

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Africa United have conquered Spain, with the South African youth side crowned champions of the 2026 Madrid Elite U20 International Cup after overcoming Spanish opposition in a dramatic final.

Africa United secured the title on Sunday, defeating Albacete Balompié in a penalty shootout at Campo La Mina in Carabanchel, Madrid, after the final could not be separated in regulation time.

The tournament organisers officially confirmed Africa United as champions, with Albacete finishing runners-up.

ALSO READ: CUT Vice-Chancellor Pamela Dube to retire early after four years at the helm

The triumph capped an impressive campaign for Africa United, who arrived in Spain determined to test themselves against some of the country’s youth football talent and left Madrid with the trophy and one of the tournament’s biggest individual awards.

Africa United’s route to the final was built on a strong group-stage campaign.

They opened their tournament with a 1-1 draw against Rayo Vallecano A on 14 August before producing a commanding 6-0 victory over Madrid Euro Soccer Academy the following day. They also drew 1-1 with Albacete Balompié.

Those results saw Africa United finish second in Group A with five points from three matches, scoring eight goals and conceding only two.

They remained unbeaten throughout the group stage, conceding only two goals in three matches.

The knockout stage provided an even bigger test.

Africa United faced CD Alameda in the second semi-final on Sunday morning at Campo La Mina. The match was scheduled for 11am, with the winners advancing to the afternoon final against the winners of Albacete Balompié and RCD Carabanchel.

Africa United’s ability to navigate the pressure of the knockout rounds ultimately proved decisive as they reached the final and faced an Albacete side they had already encountered in the group stage.

The final, played at 1pm on Sunday, went all the way to penalties. Africa United held their nerve when it mattered most to claim the championship and complete an unbeaten tournament.

Ohhiria Unoisejiolagbon was named the tournament’s best player, another major recognition for the South African delegation and a sign of the quality within the squad.

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An independent investigation into the governance and management of the University of Venda (UNIVEN) has been ordered, with Professor Norman Duncan given 90 days to get to the bottom of problems that have raised concerns about the institution’s Council, executive management, finances and internal governance.

Duncan was appointed as an Independent Assessor by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela in terms of sections 44 and 47 of the Higher Education Act, with his appointment published in the Government Gazette on 11 August.

His investigation will go beyond a general review of the university’s administration.

The terms of reference require him to examine specific decisions and disputes that have affected UNIVEN, including the Council’s handling of the precautionary suspension of Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Bernard Nthambeleni and Chief Operating Officer Botwe Kraziya, as well as litigation affecting the university.

Duncan must also assess whether the Council has been able to properly discharge its statutory responsibilities and examine the functioning and effectiveness of the Council and Executive Management.

The terms of reference require him to consider the relationship between the two structures and whether it has affected the governance and administration of the university.

He will also investigate whether members of the Council and Executive Management have been able to fulfil their statutory and fiduciary duties.

Financial decisions and concessions made by the Council will also come under scrutiny, including legal fees and their impact on the financial sustainability of the university.

Duncan has further been tasked with investigating governance challenges involving the university’s Convocation, including matters relating to its Constitution.

He may also investigate any other matter he believes has a bearing on the effective governance, management or administration of UNIVEN.

The investigation follows months of growing tensions at the university, including allegations against Nthambeleni and Kraziya and a dispute over their precautionary suspension.

At a Council meeting on 16 July, Nthambeleni and Kraziya were placed on precautionary suspension pending the finalisation of an independent forensic investigation.

The suspensions followed an anonymous letter containing allegations of corruption, maladministration and nepotism against the two officials. The allegations have not been established as fact.

The suspensions further escalated a dispute that had already involved threats of suspension and litigation.

The developments had already prompted Manamela to intervene.

The minister met with UNIVEN’s management and Council on 5 June after the anonymous letters containing allegations against Nthambeleni and Kraziya contributed to strained relations at the university.

The meeting considered the allegations and broader governance challenges at the institution. The parties agreed that the matters should be addressed through the university’s governance structures rather than through litigation, with the Council expected to report back to Manamela on progress.

However, the matters were not resolved and instead escalated.

In July, Manamela formally notified the Council of his intention to appoint an Independent Assessor and gave it an opportunity to make representations.

The Council submitted its representations, which were considered by Manamela before he made the final decision to appoint Duncan.

The minister said an independent assessment was warranted to establish the source and nature of the governance and management challenges facing UNIVEN and to advise on measures required to strengthen good governance and management.

Manamela stressed that Duncan’s appointment should not be interpreted as a finding against any person or structure at the university.

“The appointment of an Independent Assessor is not a punitive measure and should not be interpreted as a finding against any individual or structure of the University,” Manamela said.

“It is an independent fact-finding process intended to establish the facts and assist us in determining what measures, if any, are required to strengthen governance and management at UNIVEN.”

The appointment of Duncan does not place UNIVEN under administration.

He will not displace the university’s Council or Executive Management, which remain responsible for their lawful duties while the investigation is under way.

Instead, Duncan will report directly to Manamela on his findings and recommend measures he believes are necessary, together with reasons for those recommendations.

His investigation must be conducted in accordance with section 45A of the Higher Education Act, the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act and the principles of procedural fairness.

Manamela has called on the Council, Executive Management, staff, students, Convocation and other stakeholders to cooperate fully with Duncan and provide the information necessary for the investigation.

He has also urged all parties to allow the assessor to carry out his responsibilities independently and without interference.

The minister said the investigation should not distract the university from its core academic responsibilities.

“Our overriding responsibility is to protect the academic mandate of the University and the interests of its students, staff and the broader public,” Manamela said.

“The University must remain focused on teaching, learning, research and student support while this process is under way.”

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The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Pamela Zibuyile Dube, will take early retirement at the end of 2026, bringing her tenure at the university to an end after four years at the helm.

The CUT Council has accepted Prof. Dube’s decision to retire early, with her retirement taking effect on 31 December 2026.

The announcement was made by the university through the council, which said it would now begin considering the governance and leadership arrangements needed to ensure a smooth transition.

“Prof. Dube’s tenure has been characterised by visionary leadership, resilience and a steadfast pursuit of institutional excellence,” the university said.

According to CUT, Dube’s leadership saw the university strengthen its academic and research profile, expand strategic partnerships, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, advance student success and accelerate the implementation of its Vision 2030 strategy.

Dube was appointed as CUT’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal after an extensive selection process, with her appointment announced in October 2022.

She formally took up the position on 1 January 2023, succeeding Professor Alfred Ngowi, who had served as acting vice-chancellor during the leadership transition.

Her appointment marked a historic moment for the institution.

Dube became the first woman to serve as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of CUT, as well as the first female vice-chancellor in the Free State. She was formally inaugurated on 17 February 2023.

Before joining CUT, Dube served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Development and Support at the University of the Western Cape.

Her career in higher education and public-sector leadership has included positions at the University of Siegen in Germany, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Wits University, the former National Department of Education, the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation and the University of Johannesburg.

In 2025, Dube was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Universities South Africa Board of Directors, effective from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. She had also served on the USAf board since March 2023.

In April 2026, CUT also announced Dube’s appointment as Chairperson of the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) Board of Directors, with her term running from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028.

Dube described her time at CUT as a privilege and thanked the university community for its support.

She reaffirmed that, although she would be stepping down from her role, she would continue to support the success of CUT and the higher education sector.

Council said it would consider the governance implications of the notice of retirement, including arrangements for an acting vice-chancellor and principal and the process for appointing new leadership.

The university said the transition process would be guided by the need to “preserve business continuity, sustain strategic momentum and minimise disruption” to CUT’s operations.

“On behalf of the university, we extend our sincere appreciation to Prof. Pamela Dube for her dedicated service, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of CUT,” council said.

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The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has welcomed the approval granted by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) NQF Qualifications Committee at its recent meeting, paving the way for the province’s College of Nursing to offer a Bachelor of Nursing qualification at NQF Level 8, with a minimum of 480 credits.

Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane congratulated the college on the milestone.

“[I]t bears testimony to the excellent work that is being done by the management and staff of the college, who continue to ensure that we produce nurses who are well equipped to serve our people,” Simelane said during an official KZN Health Chat podcast.

She said the timing of the achievement made it even more meaningful, as it came during Women’s Month.

She said that nursing remains a women-intensive profession and paid tribute to the many women who have dedicated their lives to caring for others.

“At the same time, we continue to encourage more men to enter the nursing profession and help us build a stronger and more representative nursing workforce,” she said.

The Bachelor of Nursing degree will also establish a stronger and more direct academic pathway for nurses wishing to advance their careers and specialise.

Unlike the previous pathway, where nurses required completion of lower-level qualifications before progressing academically, the new degree offers graduates an NQF Level 8 qualification, putting them in a more advantageous position to pursue postgraduate studies and specialist nursing programmes.

While the department did not say when the college submitted this specific Bachelor of Nursing qualification for approval, the milestone comes after years of difficulty nationally in moving public nursing colleges into the higher education system.

ALSO READ: From engineering to agriculture: Muthikhitha builds thriving macadamia business in Limpopo

The transition to new nursing qualifications began in 2015, and by 2019 the KZN College of Nursing was among 10 public nursing colleges designated to offer qualifications, including bachelor’s degrees, under the new higher education framework from 2020.

In a parliamentary reply in July 2026, the Department of Higher Education and Training said nursing colleges had been designated to offer qualifications aligned with the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework since 2020, but that their migration into the national higher education system was still under way and faced legal, budgetary, structural and infrastructure challenges.

Concerns over the slow process date back even further. In 2016, Nursing Education Association chief executive Nelouise Geyer said public nursing colleges, which were responsible for about 80% of nursing graduates at the time, were struggling to meet the requirements for recognition as higher education institutions and that progress in accrediting new nursing programmes had been slow.

In 2022, Nursing Education Association chairperson Dr Sue Armstrong said difficulties getting curricula approved had made public colleges reluctant to start the new degree programme, reducing their ability to produce professional nurses. At the time, she said universities were the institutions offering the course required to qualify as a professional nurse, while problems with progression between qualification levels were also restricting career and specialisation opportunities for some nurses.

Nursing unions have also repeatedly raised concerns about the effect of accreditation and training delays on an already stretched health system. Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union chairperson Lerato Mthunzi said in 2022 that the sluggish transition was “holding the profession ransom” and affecting the quality of healthcare that could be provided.

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) has more recently linked nursing education reform to the shortage of health workers. At its national congress in March 2025, the union called for the “immediate accreditation of nursing institutions” as part of efforts to address a critical shortage of trained healthcare professionals.

Simelane said that nurses can progress more efficiently towards higher-level and specialist qualifications.

“We need more specialists in our health system, and strengthening the academic pathway for our nurses is an important part of achieving this,” she said.

She added that the college has provided the province with several reasons to be proud in recent months, including the launch of the Nephrology Nurse Specialist programme, which is among the first of its kind in South Africa’s public nursing education sector.

ALSO READ: Mohono replaces Motsumi as North West education MEC

“These achievements show that our college is growing, innovating and positioning itself to meet the specialist skills needs of our healthcare system,” she said.

She said the department would continue to support the college as it expands nursing education and develops the next generation of healthcare professionals.

“This is good news for nursing, good news for our healthcare system and, ultimately, good news for the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” she said.

“We congratulate the college and look forward to seeing this new chapter unfold.”

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Two weeks into a Mechanical Engineering degree at Wits University, Thiofhi Muthikhitha realised he was studying for the wrong career.

A classroom exercise asking new students to reflect on whether their chosen fields matched their backgrounds prompted Muthikhitha to reconsider a life already deeply rooted in farming.

“That session completely changed my life. Soon after I narrated my story, it suddenly dawned on me that growing up in a village where I was assisting my parents in practicing farming successfully without any academically acquired skills and knowledge, agriculture would have been my natural choice for a field of further education,” Muthikhitha said.

He abandoned Mechanical Engineering and enrolled for an Agricultural Engineering degree at the University of Venda, where the course had just been introduced. He became its first and only student for that academic year.

Years later, Muthikhitha holds a doctorate from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, runs agricultural consultancy Agricre — short for Agriculture and Rural Engineers — and owns a 27-hectare macadamia farm near Makhado in Limpopo.

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic), which profiled Muthikhitha this week, said the entrepreneur had built a business spanning agricultural consulting, farming, agro-processing and exports.

“It has been a long journey, but I am grateful that everything I went through has been worth its while. My trials and tribulations, and labour of love for what I believed in and am passionate about, have yielded good returns. I always tell people that agriculture found me,” Muthikhitha said.

After establishing Agricre, he spent several years helping macadamia, avocado and honey farmers connect with markets.

His business took a significant step forward in 2022 when he partnered with British conservation charity Rainforest Concern to establish a foundation aimed at training farmers in sustainable fruit-production methods.

“Through the foundation we managed to bring together 53 subtropical fruit farmers around the Vhembe district in Limpopo and trained them on productive and sustainable farming methods. We also used Radio Phalaphala to extend our training to a wide range of farmers. At one point our 30-minute educational programme that was broadcast at 4:30 in the morning had 54 000 listeners,” Muthikhitha said.

The initiative later developed into a commercial opportunity for Agricre.

“Our work as a foundation developed into a business deal in which our business, Agricre marketed fruits produced by farmers that we had developed into sustainable and profitable farmers,” he said.

A further opportunity opened in 2023 when the dtic assisted Muthikhitha to spend three weeks in Germany through the Partnering in Business with Germany Programme.

The programme, a partnership between the dtic and the German government through the German Corporation for International Cooperation, commonly known as GIZ, is aimed at promoting trade and investment links between Germany and South Africa by training and mentoring emerging South African exporters seeking access to the German market.

“While in Germany I had successful negotiations with representatives of Rewe, a supermarket chain in Germany with around 3 800 stores across the country. We subsequently clinched a deal with their distributor that saw us exporting 518 tonnes of macadamia nuts to Germany, with the help of mainly the small-scale farmers that we had worked with,” Muthikhitha said.

The deal convinced him of the commercial potential of macadamias and prompted him to buy his farm near Makhado.

According to the dtic, the 27-hectare property has 11,700 macadamia trees with a production capacity of 37 tonnes of nuts. It employs six people permanently and as many as 20 seasonal workers.

“I realised that macadamia is the bestselling product of all the subtropical fruits in our area. The agroprocessing part is even more profitable, hence we have quickly moved into processing the nuts and producing pure macadamia nuts oil that is flying off our shelves,” he said.

Agricre has expanded beyond selling raw nuts into processing macadamia oil through cold pressing.

“There is a high demand for the oil because it is produced through cold pressing, meaning that you put the nuts in the machine and press, nothing is added. It is organic. And that is what the market is looking for. Consumers use it for cooking, skin and hair. Beauty parlours are our biggest customers,” Muthikhitha said.

The company is also trying to expand its footprint in domestic and international markets.

In October 2025, Muthikhitha participated in an exhibition in Johannesburg with dtic assistance and secured orders from Japan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, according to the department.

Agricre is now experimenting with other products derived from macadamia nuts, including milk and flour, while making use of available land on the farm for crop and vegetable production.

“We are also experimenting with new products such as milk and flour that we can produce from our macadamia nuts as part of diversifying our offerings. We are utilising the space available on the farm for crash crops and vegetable production that my wife, Mashudu, who is our sales manager, is responsible for. We are happy to be making a modest contribution in creating employment for the people of Makhado, and it is our plan to grow this company and create more job opportunities,” Muthikhitha said.

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North West Premier Lazarus Mokgosi has appointed Dr Sebonta Francinah Desbo Mohono as the province’s new MEC for Education, replacing Viola Motsumi following a cabinet reshuffle.

Mohono, the former Speaker of the North West Provincial Legislature, was sworn in on Friday and takes over the education portfolio with learners and schools engaged in examinations.

The North West Department of Education said the appointment marked a significant transition and that Mohono brought experience in education, organised labour, public administration and political leadership to the role.

Mokgosi said the appointment was important for the province’s education fraternity, including parents, learners, educators, principals and the broader education community.

“Premier Mokgosi emphasised that Dr Mohono is no stranger to the education sector, having served as a teacher and as a shop steward within the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU),” the department said.

“Her experience has afforded her a deep understanding of the various dynamics within the education environment, including teaching, management, organised labour, and politics.”

The department said Mokgosi was confident Mohono’s appointment would bring stability and progress while strengthening its ability to respond to the needs of communities across the province.

Mokgosi also acknowledged the contribution of Motsumi, saying Mohono would take over and build on the work undertaken during her predecessor’s tenure.

“Accepting her new responsibility, Dr Mohono said she did not take lightly the significant responsibility entrusted to her,” the department said.

“She called on the entire education community to offer their support and work collectively with her to advance the province’s education agenda.”

Mohono committed herself to building on existing programmes and initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education and supporting learners, educators and communities.

The department said she stressed that its success would depend on cooperation between educators, principals, parents, learners, labour unions and education officials.

“She said the transition must therefore be managed with the necessary focus and stability to ensure that learners remain supported during this important period in the academic calendar,” the department said.

“Her appointment brings to the Education Department a leader with first-hand experience of the classroom, organised labour, public institutions, and political leadership.”

The department said Mohono’s experience positioned her to engage with the range of stakeholders involved in the province’s education system.

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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Board says its immediate focus will be on stabilising the student funding scheme and strengthening governance after a Pretoria High Court ruling suspended the appointment of administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula and reinstated the board.

“The NSFAS Board will resume its duties with immediate effect and will focus on stabilising the institution, strengthening governance, and fulfilling its statutory mandate to provide financial assistance to eligible students across South Africa,” it said in a statement.

The court on Friday interdicted Mathebula from continuing as NSFAS administrator pending the finalisation of Part B of the board members’ application, which seeks to have Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela’s decisions to dissolve the board, place NSFAS under administration and appoint Mathebula as administrator reviewed and set aside.

Manamela dissolved the NSFAS board and appointed Mathebula as administrator in May.

The board welcomed the interim relief and its return to NSFAS’s governance structures.

“The NSFAS Board welcomes [Friday’s] judgment of the Pretoria High Court granting interim relief suspending the appointment of the NSFAS Administrator and reinstating the Board pending the final determination of Part B of the review application,” it said.

It said it had noted concerns and issues that had emerged publicly about the institution and would address them as a priority.

It said that where wrongdoing, misconduct or unlawful conduct was identified, appropriate action would be taken in accordance with the law and applicable governance processes.

“The Board further reaffirms its commitment to working constructively with the Minister of Higher Education and Training and all relevant stakeholders in addressing the challenges facing NSFAS and the broader higher education sector.”

The board said it would not comment further on the litigation while Part B remained before the court.

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Learners from Pretoria-Tuine Ingenieurskool van Spesialisasie demonstrated their practical technical and problem-solving skills during the school’s official launch as an Engineering School of Specialisation on Friday.

From fitting and machining to electrical systems, construction, plumbing and automotive technology, the Gauteng Department of Education said learners brought their technical training to life through a series of practical demonstrations.

Led by MEC Lebogang Maile, the department said the launch marked Gauteng’s 39th School of Specialisation, another step in creating pathways for young people to pursue technical careers and contribute to the province’s future.

“Pretoria-Tuine Ingenieurskool van Spesialisasie is opening new pathways for learners to turn talent into technical expertise and practical skills through Civil Technology, Mechanical Engineering, and Electrical Technology, with practical training in woodwork, plumbing, construction, fitting and machining, automotive, digital technology, power systems, and electronics,” the department said.

“By investing in specialised, hands-on education, Gauteng is empowering young people with the skills, confidence, and opportunities to build successful careers and contribute to the province’s growing economy.”

The department said the learners were applying their skills by building a storeroom for the technical centre, gaining hands-on experience in planning, measuring, building and problem-solving.

Maile also joined the learners, laying a brick with their guidance.

“This is what practical, skills-based education looks like,” the department said.

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Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile has rejected claims that money meant for schools was spent on office accommodation, saying the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) does not procure or lease office space.

Maile said office accommodation is procured and managed by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, which serves as the custodian of provincial immovable assets in terms of the Government Immovable Asset Management Act. The GDE, however, is responsible for rental payments for leased district office accommodation.

“The Gauteng Department of Education does not procure office accommodation, enter into lease agreements for such accommodation, or administer a budget for the procurement of office accommodation,” he said in a statement issued on Thursday.

Maile’s rejection follows claims by Democratic Alliance Gauteng education spokesperson Michael Waters that the provincial government spends more than R230 million a year on rented and operating costs for GDE district offices while schools face significant funding shortfalls.

Waters said in July that 10 of the GDE’s 15 district offices were housed in privately owned buildings, citing a written response by Maile to questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

According to the information, the province spends R15.27 million a month, or R183.2 million a year, on rent for the 10 privately owned district offices.

A further R47.2 million is spent annually on municipal services, bringing the total to more than R230 million a year.

Waters questioned why government-owned buildings were not being used for the district offices, particularly while schools were facing funding pressures.

“The fact that two-thirds of the department’s district offices are housed in privately leased buildings raises serious questions about whether the Provincial Government is making the best use of its own property portfolio or unnecessarily enriching private landlords at taxpayers’ expense,” Waters said.

He said the spending was concerning because it came at a time when the GDE had reduced the per-learner allocation to affected Quintile 5 schools by about 64%.

“The Premier Panyaza Lesufi-led government cannot claim there is no money while spending millions of rand on leasing office space,” Waters said.

But the department said in its statement: “Any suggestion that the Gauteng Department of Education has spent money on office accommodation at the expense of school funding is mischievous and misleading.”

Maile said the GDE remains responsible for funding schools in accordance with the South African Schools Act and the National Norms and Standards for School Funding.

For 2026, the national target amounts are R1,835 per learner for Quintile 1 to 3 schools, R919 per learner for Quintile 4 schools and R315 per learner for Quintile 5 schools.

“The Gauteng Department of Education has not deviated from these prescribed funding requirements,” the department said.

“School funding has not been reduced or redirected by the Department for the procurement of office accommodation.”

The GDE has previously said the reduction in the Quintile 5 per-learner allocation was a realignment to nationally prescribed funding targets rather than an arbitrary cut to the education budget.

Waters has called for further investigation into why the district offices are housed in privately leased buildings and whether suitable government-owned properties could be used instead.

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The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has suspended the appointment of Professor Hlengani Mathebula as administrator of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), pending a final decision on a legal challenge brought by seven former board members.

The court on Friday interdicted Mathebula from continuing as NSFAS administrator pending the finalisation of Part B of the former board members’ application, which seeks to have Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela’s decisions reviewed and set aside.

“The appointment of the second respondent as administrator (Mathebula) of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in terms of section 17A(1)(b) of Act 56 of 1999 (the ‘Act’) by the first respondent on 4 May 2026 is suspended pending finalisation of Part B,” the order reads.

The court also authorised and directed the applicants to continue with the management, governance and administration of NSFAS and perform its functions pending the final determination of Part B.

The seven board members approached the court in May after Manamela dissolved the NSFAS board, placed the scheme under administration and appointed Mathebula on 4 May. They are seeking to have the minister’s decisions reviewed and set aside.

Manamela had defended the intervention, saying legal advice obtained by his department found that the board’s composition did not comply with the NSFAS Act. He told Parliament that three student-nominated positions were vacant and that a nominee from the finance minister had not been appointed.

The minister also cited governance and operational problems at NSFAS, including board resignations, a disclaimer audit opinion, unresolved student appeals and concerns about the scheme’s systems and internal controls.

Mathebula had been appointed for 24 months or until a new board was appointed.

This is a developing story.

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Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has said that South Africa’s post-school education and training system needs fundamental reform to address governance weaknesses, funding pressures and a failure to consistently translate training into employment opportunities.

Speaking at a high-level dialogue hosted by the University of South Africa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL), alongside the Ministry of Higher Education and Training and the National Press Club on Thursday evening, Manamela reflected on the administration of five PSET institutions and outlined the reforms he believes are necessary to rebuild the sector.

The dialogue came as the administration period for the Services SETA, Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) and Local Government SETA (LGSETA) approaches its transition point in August 2026, while the College of Cape Town has submitted its six-month administration report.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which was placed under administration in May, reported to Parliament this week on progress during its first three months under administration.

Manamela said the challenges confronting the sector go far beyond individual institutions and require fundamental changes to the way PSET is governed and managed.

“I actually think that we’re underestimating the extent of the challenge that we’re talking about. And it’s not necessarily a crisis. It’s the necessity for a systemic reset,” Manamela said.

He said governance problems had become particularly visible across the sector, which includes 50 TVET colleges, 26 universities, 21 SETAs and several quality and skills development institutions.

Friction between councils and institutional management has repeatedly created governance challenges, while failures in governance ultimately affect students through delayed allowances, accommodation problems, institutional instability and protests.

“We have in total just shy of 3 million people that are dependent directly on this sector, that is students,” he said.

“It’s a system that affects almost every household in the country.”

Manamela said the department had made progress in establishing a more coherent political direction for the sector, particularly around the Presidential mandate for a skills revolution.

He said the government’s approach was to move away from fragmented institutions operating in isolation and towards “a single system” that requires coordination, focus and disciplined political leadership.

However, he acknowledged that several commitments made when he took office remained incomplete.

Among these is the stabilisation of NSFAS, the creation of an integrated data system across PSET institutions and the development of a clear and costed plan for the transformation of TVET and community colleges.

The minister said the integrated data system was particularly important because government needed to know when students entered the PSET system, what benefits they received, what they were being trained for and what happened to them afterwards.

“It’s a project which is quite ambitious, but which we’re very much committed to working on in integrating the data systems, which will solve a lot of problems,” he said.

Manamela also raised concerns about the sustainability of universities, warning that student funding pressures and debt could threaten institutions if not addressed.

He said the department had to confront the reality that universities could not remain sustainable without a reliable student funding model.

The minister identified the stabilisation of NSFAS as the department’s immediate priority, while calling for a fundamental rethink of student funding in the longer term.

“There’s no doubt about it. I tried to run away from it. I said, no, look, I’m not minister of NSFAS. We have a board, we have a CEO, now we have an administrator,” Manamela said.

He said the department nevertheless had to champion the stabilisation of NSFAS at policy level while the administrator dealt with operational challenges involving ICT, student accommodation and allowances.

Manamela said the financial pressure on NSFAS had grown significantly since the implementation of fee-free higher education, with the department currently working with a shortfall estimated at about R15 billion, compared with R13.5 billion the previous year.

He warned that the additional money required for student funding has implications for other areas of the education and training system because government has had to reprioritise funds.

“It’s taken from the levy that should go into skills development, it’s taken from the National Skills Fund, from the SETAs, it’s re prioritisation. The first intervention we made, R2 billion intervention that we made in 2017-2018 was taken from funding that was reimbursed for postgraduate funding,” Manamela said.

“So it’s not just money that comes from nowhere. The agency of a sustainable student funding model cannot be underestimated.”

Manamela said the country should not only focus on fixing the immediate problems at NSFAS but should consider what a completely redesigned student funding system should look like.

“We need to go to ground zero with regard to NSFAS, whilst we’re fixing what is currently existing,” he said.

He said the ultimate objective should be to ensure that students receive their funding on time, institutions receive payments on time and students have access to safe and adequate accommodation.

The minister also said government was willing to ask difficult questions about whether NSFAS, in its current form, remains the best model for funding students.

“The discussion is going to end in such a way that we need to provide funding to students,” he said, stressing that the focus should remain on ensuring that students receive financial support.

Manamela also criticised the department’s performance against its targets, noting that only 49% of planned targets were achieved in the 2024/25 financial year, despite the department spending 99.1% of its final appropriation.

“That has to change,” he said.

The minister said the figures should not be viewed simply as statistics because every missed target has a direct impact on people.

“They mean students. They mean someone who didn’t get their allowance. They mean someone who didn’t get their certificate. They mean someone who did not get to complete an opportunity for them to ultimately go and work,” he said.

He said government needed to ensure that money was directed towards measurable outcomes.

“Money has to go into outcomes,” Manamela said.

The minister said the second major priority was skills delivery, with the skills revolution expected to become the spine of the department’s work.

He said every rand spent on training should ultimately contribute towards employment.

“Make sure that every rand that you spend on training, be it by the SETAs, a university, a TVET college, whatever, make sure that whatever is spent on training leads to employment,” he said.

Manamela called on SETAs, the National Skills Fund and employers to expand work-integrated learning opportunities so that students can gain practical workplace experience.

He also urged businesses to open their workplaces to TVET and university students.

“I’m also personally engaging with businesses and saying to them, open up your doors for work
integrated learning for our apprentices,” Manamela said.

“We have to have employers opening up their workplaces. We have to have SETAs working as one.”

He said the PSET system must allow students to move between different types of institutions, including community colleges, TVET colleges and universities.

“One can enter through a community college and exit through a university,” Manamela said.

Manamela also backed the rationalisation of SETAs, arguing that the current system contains duplication and inefficiencies.

He said the government needed to reorganise the sector so that SETAs cooperate on basic services while specialising in the industries they are mandated to serve.

“The rationalisation of SETAs is something that is inevitable. It has to happen,” he said.

He said the process should begin with greater cooperation between SETAs rather than waiting for the expiry of their current licences.

Manamela said governance reform must also include strengthening the capacity of councils, executives, student leaders and other stakeholders responsible for the functioning of PSET institutions.

He revealed that government was discussing the possible establishment of an institute for governance and leadership for the PSET sector.

Such an institute could help induct people appointed to councils and ensure they understand legislation, policy, institutional mandates and their responsibilities.

“Governance and leadership has to be our focus,” Manamela said.

He also identified leadership as one of the biggest challenges facing the TVET sector.

“We have to make sure that we invest in capacity building for leadership in the sector,” he said.

Services SETA administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga said the institution entered administration in August 2025 with the task of addressing its problems while unlocking its potential.

“When you’re being invited into administration, you’re being invited into a troubleshooting space,” Masoga said.

He said the administration had focused on turning the institution around and claimed significant improvements over the past 12 months.

According to Masoga, Services SETA increased enrolment from 23,000 to 32,000 and completion figures from 5,000 to 16,000.

Official Services SETA figures published earlier this year showed that it had invested more than R500 million in supporting students across the country’s 26 universities and more than R800 million in supporting about 15,000 TVET students.

The SETA also committed R90 million to strengthen the country’s nine community education and training colleges. Manamela said in March that the Services SETA had a R1.3 billion bursary programme supporting 10,000 TVET students and 5,000 university students.

Masoga said the SETA was also investing a further R3 billion in work-integrated learning through its 20,000 internship programme.

He said the organisation had unlocked more than R5 billion in resources that had previously been stuck within the system.

“We’re unleashing that resource for the purpose of it, touching the lives of ordinary people, which are the beneficiaries of these resources at our disposal,” he said.

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Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called on businesses to open their workplaces to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) students, saying stronger industry partnerships are essential to improving graduates’ employment prospects.

Manamela made the call on Thursday while officially launching TVET Month 2026 at Esayidi TVET College in KwaZulu-Natal, where he highlighted work-integrated learning as a key component of efforts to strengthen the country’s skills pipeline.

The launch, held under the theme “TVET: The Inclusive Home of Occupational Excellence, Driving the Skills Revolution”, brought together Grade 9 to 12 learners, TVET students and alumni, government representatives, industry partners and community members.

Manamela said government could not bridge the gap between skills training and employment on its own and urged companies to treat workplaces as places of learning.

“Our focus is to make sure that students spend some time … in the classroom, you spend some time in the workshop, you also spend some time in a workplace,” Manamela said.

He said South Africa could learn from countries with established dual training systems, but these systems worked because industry played an active role in training students.

“We cannot alone as government resolve the connection between skills and training,” he said.

“But all of those countries work because industry opened their doors, and the workplace is also seen as a learning place.”

Manamela called on businesses across sectors to take in students for workplace-based learning.

“If you’re running a farm, get students who are doing agricultural work. If you’re running a hair salon, get a student who’s doing hairdressing and beauty,” he said.

“So we really want to call on you as industry to adopt students and ensure that those students are placed in the workplace.”

The minister said the department was working with organisations such as the Department of Health and private-sector providers to create practical training opportunities for TVET students.

He also pointed to improvements in TVET college infrastructure and the quality of lecturers, saying students needed exposure to modern equipment and real-world industry practices.

“We have improved the infrastructure in our TVET colleges. We have the machinery that any child in many of our TVET colleges, any child anywhere in the world, be it in the continent,” Manamela said.

He said lecturers were increasingly being exposed to industry to ensure that training was informed by practical experience.

“There’s now emphasis on the fact that our lecturers need to have exposure to industry so that they don’t teach people mechanical engineering when they themselves have not seen the engine of a car,” he said.

Manamela said government was seeking to position TVET colleges as institutions of choice for young people considering further education, employment and entrepreneurship.

He encouraged learners to visit TVET campuses, speak to lecturers and students, and see the workshops and equipment available before making decisions about their futures.

“Universities are important institutions but TVET colleges are equally important institutions that I want to encourage you to experience,” he said.

The minister also urged Grade 12 learners to apply early for further education and financial aid rather than waiting until they received their matric results.

“It’s August already and I’m sure you have been at work preparing for your matric examination. I want to wish you all the best. But I also want to encourage you to apply now,” Manamela said.

He warned that learners who waited until after receiving their results could find themselves without a place at a university or TVET college, or without funding.

“We’ve seen many instances where students pass their matric with flying colours, get surprised by the number of distinctions that you have accumulated for that year, you get shocked by your success, you haven’t applied for university, you haven’t applied for NSFAS, you haven’t applied to a TVET college for next year,” he said.

“And so I want to encourage you to apply now and secure your space in these institutions now.”

Manamela said TVET colleges also provided opportunities for students interested in entrepreneurship, pointing to Esayidi’s Maker’s Space as an example of initiatives encouraging students to pursue entrepreneurial ventures.

He said many students could study at TVET colleges without paying tuition fees through funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Sector Education and Training Authorities, colleges and other state entities.

“Most students who are studying at our TVET colleges are studying for free,” he said.

He added that students pursuing occupational trades could also receive stipends while undergoing their training.

Manamela said TVET graduates had strong employment prospects, particularly after completing work-integrated learning.

“A good proportion of TVET college graduates get employment almost immediately after completing, especially their work-integrated learning,” he said.

Manamela said TVET colleges offered learners an opportunity to combine classroom theory, practical training and workplace experience.

“We don’t only show you the picture of a car and tell you how it was made. We also allow you into the workshop to touch and feel the gearbox, to touch and feel whatever else that’s in the car,” he said.

He acknowledged that the TVET system still faced challenges but said its record of producing artisans and other skilled workers showed that it remained an important part of South Africa’s education and training system.

“It’s not yet a system that is perfect. It’s not a system that we want it to be where it should be,” he said.

“But if it’s a system that has produced the many artisans who’ve been absorbed into industry, it therefore means that it is a system which you can rely on.”

The department said TVET Month would include activities aimed at exposing school learners to TVET colleges, their programmes, workshops, lecturers, students and industry opportunities.

South Africa has 50 TVET colleges and more than 350 campuses across the country, offering training in fields including engineering, agriculture, ICT, plumbing, electrical work and other occupational programmes.

Manamela said the month-long campaign was intended to strengthen the profile of TVET colleges and encourage young people to consider them alongside universities when planning their futures.

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Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has been pressed by MPs to explain who authorised the remuneration of four advisers appointed to assist National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula after confirming that Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana had not approved their pay.

The issue arose during a briefing by the NSFAS to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on Wednesday on progress in stabilising the entity since it was placed under administration.

Committee member Sihle Lonzi repeatedly questioned Manamela about the appointment and remuneration of the four advisers supporting Mathebula.

Manamela confirmed that the advisers were appointed under Section 17B of the NSFAS Act.

However, when Lonzi asked whether the Finance Minister had approved their remuneration, Manamela replied: “No.”

The response raised questions about how the advisers’ remuneration had been authorised and whether the process complied with Section 17C of the NSFAS Act.

Lonzi pointed to Section 17C, which states that the Minister, with the approval of the Finance Minister, may determine the remuneration and allowances paid to the administrator and any other person appointed under Section 17B.

Lonzi then pressed Manamela to explain what he had approved when he concurred with the appointment of the four advisers.

Manamela said his approval related to the appointment of the advisers and the conditions attached to their appointments, but he did not have the detailed submission before him.

“I don’t have the letter request or the submission. It’s quite a detailed submission. But what I have is the letter that confirms that the advisers can be appointed, and the conditions which need to be followed in line with the appointment of those advisers,” Manamela said.

He said the department would provide the committee with the relevant information.

Lonzi had earlier challenged Manamela after the minister initially appeared unable to provide details of what had been approved for the advisers.

He told the minister that the committee was specifically asking about remuneration, rather than the minister’s authority to approve the appointments.

“I’m not talking about appointments, and I think I’ve stressed this point enough. I’m talking about the remuneration of the Advisers,” Lonzi said.

Manamela responded that information on how much the advisers had been paid and the process relating to their remuneration would be furnished to the committee.

The issue of who authorised the financial commitment was also raised by committee member Delmaine Christians.

Christians asked Manamela who had authorised the financial commitment for both the administrator and the advisers.

“For the administrator, we’re waiting for the Minister of Finance and for the advisers, as I said, I think we’ll just have to provide you with all of those information,” Manamela said.

Christians said the committee needed a full account of how the process unfolded, including the appointment of the administrator and advisers, their remuneration packages and the Treasury concurrence process.

“We need to have an understanding as a committee how that all transpired,” Christians said.

Committee member Karabo Khakhau questioned the chronology of the appointments, asking how the administrator could have been appointed and started working while his remuneration was still being finalised, before subsequently requesting four advisers whose combined cost was also under consideration.

Khakhau questioned whether the government should have established the financial implications of the appointments before proceeding with them.

Manamela rejected what he described as loaded insinuations but explained the sequence of events.

He said the administrator was appointed first, with the department seeking concurrence from the Finance Minister on the administrator’s costs. Mathebula then assumed office and recommended four additional advisers, whose appointments Manamela subsequently approved.

The department was still waiting for confirmation from the Finance Minister on the administrator’s remuneration.

Manamela maintained that his department’s interpretation of the legislation was that Treasury concurrence applied to the administrator’s remuneration rather than separately to the advisers.

He said the administrator was appointed on 4 May 2026, after which Mathebula recommended four people to assist him.

“Based on practise, the recommendation from the Administrator only requires concurrence from the Minister of Higher Education. And that we do not need any further concurrence outside of that,” Manamela said.

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie summarised the minister’s position as meaning that Manamela had not sought Treasury concurrence under Section 17C for the advisers because his interpretation was that such concurrence was required only for the remuneration or conditions of employment of the administrator.

The interpretation was challenged by committee members, who argued that Section 17C expressly refers not only to the administrator but also to “any other person appointed in terms of Section 17B”.

Manamela said the department had obtained legal advice on the interpretation of the provisions and would provide further information to the committee.

The minister also acknowledged that the process around the administrator’s remuneration had taken longer than it should have.

He said Mathebula’s appointment and the subsequent determination of his remuneration were separate processes, with the department still engaging Godongwana on the matter.

Manamela said Mathebula’s appointment had been gazetted with effect from 4 May 2026 under sections 17A to 17D of the NSFAS Act.

He stressed that the Finance Minister’s concurrence related to the remuneration payable following the appointment and did not determine whether Mathebula had lawfully been appointed as administrator.

Manamela also acknowledged the unusual position in which the administrator had been working without payment while the remuneration process remained unresolved.

He said the department was engaging Godongwana urgently to finalise the matter and that he would account to the committee and the public once the process had been concluded.

The minister said the situation had exposed gaps in the framework governing institutional administrations and highlighted the need for clearer guidelines covering appointments, remuneration, support arrangements, expenditure controls and exit arrangements.

He said similar delays had occurred in previous administrations and that the department would have to work on regulations to create a standard framework for future interventions.

“This is quite regrettable,” Manamela said, referring to the delay in finalising the administrator’s conditions of service, while thanking Mathebula for continuing to work without payment.

Letsie agreed that the experience had exposed gaps in the current legislative framework governing administrations.

He said the committee needed to consider how the legislation could be improved so that remuneration, conditions of service and other administrative arrangements were dealt with more clearly when an institution was placed under administration.

Manamela also said the department had requested a complete account of everyone appointed or contracted to support the administrator, including documentation on their remuneration and contracts.

“Everything that happens at the NSFAS has to happen within the law,” Manamela said, adding that the department would examine whether the processes followed in appointing the supporting team complied with the law.

The minister maintained that the department remained supportive of Mathebula and his administration, while stressing that support did not remove the need for proper oversight.

He said the department’s responsibility was to ensure that decisions taken at NSFAS complied with both the spirit and letter of the law.

The committee is expected to receive further information from the department on the appointment process and remuneration arrangements involving Mathebula and the four advisers.

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The University of South Africa (Unisa) has opened applications for 10 South African students to study towards a fully funded six-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) degree at the University of Namibia (UNAM) in Windhoek.

The programme, offered in partnership with UNAM, is aimed at developing a new generation of veterinarians who will contribute to South Africa’s veterinary sector and help lay the foundation for Unisa’s planned School of Veterinary Science.

The selected students will complete their veterinary studies at UNAM before returning to South Africa to contribute to veterinary education, research and animal health.

Unisa will cover the students’ registration, tuition, accommodation, travel and living expenses for the duration of the programme.

In a press release, the university said the opportunity was more than a scholarship, as it would offer successful applicants the chance to become part of the founding generation of veterinarians who will contribute to the development of the future school.

The six-year programme will be completed at UNAM’s School of Veterinary Medicine at its Neudamm Campus in Namibia.

The BVM qualification is accredited by the Namibian Veterinary Council and follows guidelines set by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Students who graduate from the programme will also be able to return to South Africa and register as veterinarians without sitting the South African Veterinary Council’s additional registration examination, due to the existing reciprocity agreement between the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) and the Namibian Veterinary Council.

The partnership follows a major development in veterinary education in the region, with the SAVC and Namibian Veterinary Council entering into a Mutual Recognition Agreement.

The agreement was formalised in Pretoria on 14 July 2025 after an accreditation audit of UNAM’s BVM programme conducted in November 2024.

The opportunity is open to South African citizens who meet the required admission criteria.

The university said it will prioritise current Unisa students who meet the admission requirements, followed by Unisa graduates and alumni. Grade 12 learners who have completed or are completing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and are not enrolled in further education or training may also apply.

Applicants following the NSC or Independent Examination Board route must have a Bachelor’s degree endorsement and meet the required subject levels.

These include at least Level 5 in English, Mathematics, Physical Science or Chemistry and Life Science, with an overall APS of 35. Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.

These are Unisa’s minimum requirements for initial screening, while final admission to UNAM will be determined according to UNAM’s own points system and subject requirements.

There are also alternative admission routes for applicants with relevant qualifications.

Those with an NQF Level 7 science degree from Unisa in fields such as Animal Science, Zoology, Biochemistry or Microbiology may qualify if they achieved a final-year average of at least 75%, with no module below 65%, and meet the specified school-level Mathematics, Physical Science or Chemistry and Life Science requirements.

Applicants holding a three-year Unisa Diploma in Animal Health may also qualify if they meet the required academic standards.

Unisa said the final group will also seek to reflect South Africa’s demographic profile and geographic distribution.

Applicants must submit a single PDF containing a motivation letter of no more than two pages, a comprehensive CV, a certified copy of their South African ID and certified academic records. Certified documents must not be older than three months.

Grade 12 learners completing the NSC in 2026 must submit their latest available results, while current university students and graduates must provide their full academic transcripts and qualification certificates where applicable.

Applications close on 15 August 2026 and must be emailed to daahapplications@unisa.ac.za.

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Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has warned that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is facing an estimated R15 billion funding shortfall, saying the growing gap threatens the sustainability of South Africa’s fee-free higher education policy.

Briefing Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on Wednesday on progress in stabilising NSFAS under administration, Manamela said the shortfall had grown from about R2.5 billion in 2018 to R13.5 billion last year and was now estimated at about R15 billion.

“The most significant and I think unresolved issue remains the financial position at the NSFAS,” Manamela said.

He said the funding crisis was largely driven by growing demand for higher education, while the NSFAS allocation was effectively fixed through the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and did not automatically increase with the number of students qualifying for funding.

“We have a policy to provide free education on the one hand. On the other hand, we have an allocation that is almost set in stone in the medium-term expenditure framework and in the budget for a cycle,” he said.

Manamela said the number of learners progressing from Grade 12 into higher education was increasing, putting further pressure on the student funding system.

He said government needed to confront whether it was prepared to provide the resources required to sustain fee-free higher education.

“We have made a commitment to South Africans that we will provide fee-free higher education, and we have to go and find the money,” he said.

“And if we don’t have that money from the national fiscus or from wherever, we need to rethink our approach towards a fee-free higher education.”

Manamela said the issue could not be treated as a problem belonging only to NSFAS or the Higher Education Department, but required a broader government response.

He said government was already discussing the matter with Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, while policy proposals were also being developed.

The minister also raised concerns about the current state of NSFAS, which has been under administration since May.

He said the administrator’s initial stabilisation plan had correctly identified systemic weaknesses, including governance, financial controls, data, information and communications technology, audit remediation, accommodation, appeals and stakeholder confidence.

However, Manamela cautioned that the plan should not itself be regarded as evidence that NSFAS had been stabilised.

“Our preliminary assessment as the department is that the plan remains stronger at the level of strategic commitment than at implementation level,” he said.

He said the plan required clearer baselines, costed interventions and measurable milestones, as well as a clear framework for determining when the administrator would be able to exit.

“The test is whether NSFAS is measurably moving from instability towards reliable performance,” Manamela said.

The minister said the administrator had inherited serious structural weaknesses, including unreliable data systems, problems reconciling billing and registration records, accommodation payment challenges and defects in the appeals system.

He said historical reconciliation failures had also affected students’ ability in some cases to clear their accounts, obtain certificates and progress with further studies or employment.

Manamela identified student accommodation as the biggest immediate challenge facing NSFAS.

He said tens of thousands of students were currently recorded as being in non-accredited accommodation and stressed that students should not be punished for structural shortages.

“It is important that we send the message that students should not be penalised or punished for structural shortages,” he said.

“Temporary exceptions cannot become a permanent substitute for minimum safety, for quality and financial control standards.”

He said NSFAS needed a reliable accreditation and deviation database, stronger verification and payment controls, and systems to ensure legitimate accommodation providers were paid on time while students were protected from eviction caused by administrative failures.

Manamela also highlighted the so-called “missing middle” funding gap, saying NSFAS had received about 53,000 applications under the loan scheme, but only about 3,000 had been assessed as eligible.

He said the issue formed part of the longer-term discussion about stabilising student funding.

The minister also addressed concerns about the remuneration of the administrator and the appointment or contracting of people supporting the administration.

He said the administrator was appointed with effect from 4 May under sections 17A to 17D of the NSFAS Act, with the appointment published in the Government Gazette.

However, determining the administrator’s remuneration required concurrence from the Finance Minister, a process Manamela acknowledged had taken longer than it should have.

“The Department and I are engaging with the Minister of Finance urgently to ensure that this matter is finalised,” he said.

Manamela said he had also requested a complete account of the people appointed or contracted to support the administrator, including documentation relating to remuneration, contracts and the legal basis for the appointments.

“Everything that happens at the NSFAS has to happen within the law,” he said.

He said the department remained supportive of the administrator but would ensure that the processes followed in appointing the supporting team complied with the law.

With the next funding cycle approaching, Manamela said NSFAS’s readiness for 2027 would need to be measured against clear milestones covering applications, systems, funding policy, appeals and accommodation planning.

“2027 readiness must also be tested against hard milestones, applications and systems,” he said.

The minister said the administration should ultimately result in the rebuilding and redesign of NSFAS so that it no longer required repeated interventions.

“Administration cannot become NSFAS’s permanent governance model,” he said.

“The purpose of this intervention must be to rebuild an institution that no longer requires an intervention during crisis and therefore an administrator.”

Manamela said the department, NSFAS administration and Parliament should judge the progress of the intervention against that standard.

“Where mistakes have been made, I think they should and must be corrected. And where allegations require investigations, appropriate processes have to follow,” he said.

“The overriding obligation remains unchanged to build an NSFAS that performs its mandate reliably, lawfully, sustainably for the students of this country.”

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