By Johnathan Paoli
Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has expressed confidence in strengthening institutional governance and student support at the University of Limpopo (UL) in the coming months.
This is despite concerns of a lack of transparency, infrastructure challenges and concerns regarding mismanagement.
Nkabane conducted a ministerial oversight visit to UL on Tuesday as part of her department’s ongoing engagements with public universities across the country.
“This visit provides an important opportunity to engage the university’s leadership on the progress they are making and the challenges they face in delivering on their mandate,” Nkabane said.
The visit, which took place at the Turfloop campus in Mankweng, comes amid renewed national focus on the quality of governance, infrastructure readiness and academic performance within the higher education sector.
Nkabane was joined by director-general Nkosinathi Sishi, deputy director-general for university education Marcia Socikwa and other senior officials from the department.
She was formally welcomed by the chairperson of the university council, Pandelani Nefolovhodwe, and the Vice-Chancellor Mahlo Mokgalong, along with members of the university’s executive leadership.
Discussions included institutional governance, academic performance, financial sustainability and the pace of ongoing infrastructure development projects.
The oversight visit is part of a broader monitoring and accountability framework being implemented by the department, which aims to ensure public universities are operating efficiently, transparently and in alignment with national priorities.
UL has faced several challenges in recent years, particularly in terms of infrastructure delays, strained student accommodation and governance concerns.
While it has made strides in academic output and research productivity, infrastructure backlogs have often hampered service delivery and student experience.
Earlier this year, Deputy Minister Buti Manamela also visited the campus to assess its readiness for the 2025 academic year.
His visit highlighted concerns around delayed completion of key infrastructure projects, particularly student housing, laboratory upgrades and digital connectivity, which are all essential components in modern higher education environments.
Tuesday’s visit sought to build on those engagements and address some of the recurring issues.
“We need to ensure that the infrastructure challenges do not affect the quality of education or the dignity of students. We must also ensure that governance structures are functioning optimally and that institutional autonomy is balanced with public accountability,” Nkabane said.
In a statement, the university welcomed the minister’s visit, calling it an opportunity to showcase the work being done and the strides made despite systemic pressures.
“UL is honoured to welcome minister Nkabane and her team. This engagement promotes transparency and mutual accountability between the institution and the department,” the university said.
Nefolovhodwe echoed these sentiments, saying: “We view the minister’s oversight as a vital mechanism to strengthen public confidence in our operations and our ability to serve our communities.”
The oversight visit included a tour of ongoing infrastructure development sites and student facilities, as well as closed-door discussions between department officials and the university’s management.
The minister is expected to report back to the department and relevant parliamentary committees on her findings and any recommendations.
INSIDE EDUCATION
