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Education expert urges government to prioritize student welfare despite university autonomy

todayOctober 17, 2025 28

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Photo credit: @Khu_Ntshavheni, X

Education expert, Professor Wayne Hugo, believes that government should demonstrate compassion and concern for students at higher learning institutions regardless of their independence.

He was responding to Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s, remarks that universities must independently manage their issues following violent protests and property destruction at several institutions recently.

The institutions affected are the University of Fort Hare and the University of the Free State.

The public has called on the government to assist in managing these crises.

Despite acknowledging the legal independence of higher learning institutions, Professor Hugo argues that the government must remain attentive to student welfare.

Professor Hugo commended Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela, for his handling of student issues nationwide.

“He recognises the independence of universities but also works with them when dealing with real South African issues, which involve more than what universities themselves can handle. So if you have a situation where extensive intervention is needed as opposed to just normally running university affairs, the government needs to be involved and I must say Buti Manamela is doing that correctly,” said Hugo.

He acknowledged that higher learning institutions are structured to manage themselves but questions whether those overseeing operations are adequately equipped.

“The question is do we have the right kind of people who are going to do the right kind of judgments and interventions based on their universities, situations, and demands so that we don’t have government over reaching on one side while on the other side there is complete neglect. It is important to have compassionate ministers who can handle such situations intelligently and properly,” he added.

Hugo also highlighted the role of university council members in overseeing operations to ensure smooth functioning at all times. He added that councils can engage with quality control bodies.

“The university has to speak to quality control bodies like the Council of Higher Education who come in and actually check that the institutions are actually doing their job properly. There is also the Higher Education and Training Department which has some oversight over what happens at universities because they inject substantial amounts of money into these institutions. There is also USAf (Universities South Africa) where vice chancellors from all 26 universities across the country get together to engage as a unit to outside authorities to make sure that things run smoothly at institutions,” he said.

He further noted that Parliament can authorise law enforcement intervention when necessary to quell volatile situations on campuses.

Meanwhile, SASCO has rejected Minister Ntshavheni’s remarks, arguing that the narrative of university independence is being used by the government to justify the exclusion of communities and students from institutional governance.

SASCO NEC Member, Tarik Lalla, says government must hold universities accountable.

Written by: Odirile Rabalao 

Written by: Nonhlanhla Harris

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