The troubled state of higher education under Nobuhle Nkabane’s watch

South Africa’s higher education sector, serving more than 1.7 million students across universities, TVET colleges and CET institutions, promises quality learning, skills development and support. But each academic year opens with the same struggles – unpaid student debt, blocked registrations, and housing shortages that leave some students sleeping outside institutions.

Protests have become routine, driven largely by delays and dysfunction at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), with issues ranging from slow funding to technical failures and poor governance.

It was for these reasons that Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane was brought in to steer the ship after the Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed, along with two deputies, Mimmy Gondwe and Buti Manamela. Nkabane arrived when entities such as NSFAS had been placed under administration over non-payment issues. 

Exploring the state of higher education and training under Nkabane: 

NSFAS, too broken to succeed

Nkabane’s first pledge was to resolve the NSFAS chaos and ensure that qualifying students received bursaries and loans. She increased university allowances by 4% while TVETs received a 46% increase. This was aimed at responding to the increased cost of living. A boost for students, helping them to buy food and other necessities.

She appointed a NSFAS board of 18 members and a new acting CEO, Waseem Carrim. In 2025, NSFAS was able to fund approximately 811,011 students across various universities and TVET colleges, and offer housing to students as they worked with institutions and private landlords.

However, many students experienced issues. Accommodation remains one of the biggest failures of the NSFAS; thousands of students are unaccommodated or threatened by landlords due to payment delays caused by NSFAS. In February, protests erupted at institutions such as CPUT and NMU, with students demanding urgent intervention over access to housing.

Earlier this year, NSFAS admitted to owing R44-million to landlords from the Private Student Housing Association (PSHA), leaving thousands of students in limbo. 

Recently, students burnt the Northern Cape Urban Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College offices in Kimberley after NSFAS delayed allowances. 

NSFAS is still locked in a battle to exit its costly R2.5-million rent in Cape Town headquarters, a symbolic reminder of its financial disarray, while Minister Nkabane said this is being handled by lawyers.

Operational cracks remain, and the recent improvements have failed to inspire confidence in the student community. MPs and students have called for NSFAS to be decentralised so that offices can be opened in universities and colleges. 

Looking at the abrupt calls to remove her as minister, little has been done at NSFAS to convince students that the minister has the situation in control. 

Read more: NSFAS set to leave R2m-a-month Cape Town offices after minister moves to terminate lease.

TVET challenges

TVET colleges, often touted as a crucial solution to youth unemployment, received R14-billion in this year’s budget – a slight increase from last year. But this funding boost masks more troubling realities. These institutions remain under-resourced, and quality assurance remains a recurring concern.

While there have been pockets of progress, many TVETs continue to operate with outdated equipment, a lack of qualified lecturers, and poor infrastructure. Sihle Lonzi of the EFF was vocal on 3 July 2025, during the budget vote, that TVETs must not be treated as high schools; they must be promoted similarly to how universities are encouraged. 

To improve the TVET colleges, Nkabane signed a memorandum of understanding, aligning SA’s TVET priorities with Austria’s dual education model. The agreement will facilitate the exchange of vocational education delegations, foster partnerships between training institutions and companies, and enable the placement of South African students in Austrian businesses. 

Read more: City Varsity’s Cape Town Saga—Students Lack Academic Results, and staff face UIF Battles and Unpaid Salaries

Deputy Minister Gondwe has been conducting oversight visits in various colleges in SA. She led a campaign against bogus colleges. According to TimesLive, Gondwe said unregistered institutions of higher learning rob students of employment opportunities. This was a critical step in improving the higher education sector.

Daily Maverick reported that students from Educor, a private education provider with several colleges including Damelin, CityVarsity, ICESA City Campus and Lyceum College, said they are struggling to get their certificates, while workers were forced to resign over unpaid salaries. Educor was fully reinstated after Blade Nzimande cancelled it in 2024.

Non-issuing of certificates 

Another dark mark on higher education is the issue of student debt. Across the country, thousands of graduates are unable to collect their certificates due to unpaid fees, effectively locking them out of the job market. According to many, this isn’t just a bureaucratic nuisance – it’s a systemic barrier to employment in a country with a 32.9% unemployment rate.

Worryingly, even those with degrees are not immune. The graduate unemployment rate is at 11.7%, according to 2025 first-quarter statistics.

Daily Maverick reported that graduates from various institutions were in support of the Student Debt Relief Bill proposed by Lonzi. The bill aims to tackle the payment of university debts. Nkabane has not responded to this proposed bill. 

Read more: Graduates welcome EFF proposal of a bill aimed at settling student university debt.

Safety on campus 

Another issue troubling in the sector is the safety of university campuses and TVET colleges. Multiple incidents of deaths and injuries have occurred since the start of the year, with the latest being the tragic death of a Walter Sisulu University (WSU) staff member, Sinethemba Mpambane.

Sisonke Mbolekwa, a WSU student, was allegedly killed by residence manager Manelisi Mampane, after students protested against poor maintenance conditions. Nkabane confirmed that Mbolekwa was a WSU student, after she first denied that he was a student.

Universities like Sefako Makgatho Health Science University in Gauteng are battling issues of lack of water, while they have no library. This was revealed during a portfolio committee meeting in Parliament.

The university also “acknowledged infrastructure limitations in some of its older residences – particularly in relation to the absence of stoves and laundry facilities”, according to spokesperson Tshimangadzo Mphaphuli.

Read more: Chaos erupts at Walter Sisulu University: One dead, three injured in campus shooting incident.

Campus safety is a concern that needs attention. Nkabane has been part of programs to ensure that students are safe. She led a gender-based violence femicide programme in schools that educated on the importance of safety.

State of Setas

The Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) are responsible for facilitating skills development through programmes such as learnerships and internships. Consisting of 21 different Setas ranging from agriculture to safety and security, they also disburse grants to employers and skills development providers to offer training to employed and unemployed learners.

Through Setas, SA has produced more than 95,000 qualified artisans over the past five years. However, Setas have been under scrutiny due to Nkabane wanting to appoint ANC politicians as chairpersons of the 21 different boards. 

In 2024, Minister Nobuhle Nkabane called for nominations to appoint chairpersons of accounting authorities for 21 Setas, set to serve from April 2025 to March 2030. Leaks revealed Buyambo Mantashe, Minister Gwede Mantashe’s son, was appointed, despite claims that an independent panel led by Terry Motau made the picks. Motau denied chairing it, and most panellists were from her department, raising the question of whether the panel was independent.

Read more: Advocate Terry Motau slams minister over claims he chaired controversial Seta appointments panel

Further, members of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education felt misled by Nkabane, with the Democratic Alliance opening a case against her. Student organisations also lost faith in Nkabane, calling for her removal as minister.

As Nkabane continues to steer the higher education sector, the story of the higher education sector under her is one of missed opportunities and mounting crises. Despite bold promises and high budgets, it’s a sector plagued by funding delays, unsafe campuses, uncollected certificates and political interference. DM