2023-w1984 - 30 June 2023

Thapelo Mogale to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

(1) Following the report by the University of South Africa that alleges deep-rooted corruption in the institution and its management, (a) how does his department intend to intervene in this regard and (b) by what date will the specified intervention occur; (2) what support has his department given to the university management over the concerns that were raised prior to the report being released over the past five years?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 Jun 2023

  1. Following the report on the University of South Africa that alleges deep-rooted corruption in the institution and its management.
    1. How does the Department intend to intervene?

Assuming that the Report in question is the Report of the Independent Assessor, Prof Themba Mosia, the Minister has shared the Report with the Council of the University for its response as required by the Higher Education Act ...

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2023-w2262 - 30 June 2023

Naledi Nokukhanya Chirwa to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether he intends to establish satellite campuses that will specialise in numerous industries in existing universities; if not, why not; if so, which of the specified satellite campuses or universities will specialise in renewable energy?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 Jun 2023

Industry, together with universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, need to be more responsive to each other in understanding and communicating training needs, including sharing information with respect to skills development across the renewable energy value chain. This requires that there is a collaborative effort to jointly assess existing skill requirements and offerings, identify gaps and put in place training ...

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2023-w1972 - 30 June 2023

Sinawo Tambo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether, with reference to the allegations surrounding the awarding of degrees at the University of Fort Hare and the impact it has on the integrity of the higher education sector, his department has commissioned a comprehensive investigation into the allegations of influences brought to bear on the specified university when awarding qualifications; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 Jun 2023

The Department has not commissioned an investigation into the awarding of qualifications at the UFH. The allegations on the awarding of degrees, amongst others, are under investigation by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) under the proclamation R.84 of 2022, as published in the Government Gazette No 47199 of 5 August 2022. The Minister has engaged the SIU and awaits the completed Report of the ...

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2023-w2496 - 30 June 2023

Nokulunga Primrose Sonti to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

What steps does his department intend to take to (a) resolve the matter of the workers of the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University who are said to have downed tools in protest over a 7% wage increase and (b) concede to the demands of the workers?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 Jun 2023

(a) Wage negotiations and agreements take place within the Institutional Bargaining Forum, and the Minister may not intervene in wage negotiations. The University under the leadership of the Council must resolve the current deadlock using the various mechanisms available to them, including dispute resolution.

Section 34 (1) and (3) of the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997 (ACT), as amended which state the following: ...

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2023-w2321 - 30 June 2023

Sanele Sethembeni Zondo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

What (a) common and widespread issues, leading to annual student protests, has his department recognised and (b) steps have been taken to address such issues?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 Jun 2023

  1. Common and widespread issues leading to student protests.
    1. Most student protests occur at the beginning of the academic year between January and end of March of every year. Challenges that bring about student protests vary from year to year. In 2015 and 2016, the key issues were around free education. In 2018 and 2019, the demands of students included funding of the missing middle ...
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2023-w2149 - 30 June 2023

Sanele Sethembeni Zondo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

With reference to his announcement in his Budget Vote in 2023, that the construction of the Crime Detection University in Hammanskraal is set to begin in the next year or two, (a) what measures has his department already adopted to ensure that the specified new university does not suffer the same fate of underfunding as already existing universities and (b) how long is the specified project envisaged to take before it is fully functional?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 Jun 2023

The Department has allocated funding for the finalisation of feasibility reports and development of concept designs which should be completed by the end of the 2023/24 financial year. The funding for the actual construction will be finalized by September 2023.

The details designs will determine the actual construction period. However, the preliminary targets are for the institution to be completed in 2026/7 financial year.

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2023-w2013 - 30 June 2023

Thapelo Mogale to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Given the dynamic nature of technology and the risk of automation, what (a) is the National Skills Fund (NSF) doing to help build the critical skills that will be needed, (b) number of students are being funded by the NSF, (c) institutions are they enrolled in and (d) programmes are they enrolled in?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 Jun 2023

(a) In response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) and its disruptions, the government developed a policy framework for Science and Technology contained in the White Paper on Science and Technology and Innovation (WPSTI), adopted by cabinet in March 2019. It is which was aligned to the National Development Plan information and communication technology priorities.

The advent of the 4IR demands that young people ...

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2023-w2259 - 30 June 2023

Piaba Madokwe to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether his department has any policy for institutions of higher learning with regard to the nature and kind of organisations that may operate on campuses of higher learning; if not, why not; if so, what steps has his department taken to create awareness among and safeguard vulnerable university students from a well-known cult which is primarily known as the World Mission Society Church of God, led by the so-called God the Mother, that has been banned from South Korea where it originated and is now freely operating around institutions of higher learning in the Republic, exploiting and creating a number of victims who have over the years tried to expose the so-called church?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 30 Jun 2023

The Department of Higher Education and Training does not have any policy for institutions of higher learning regarding the nature and kind of organisations that may operate on campuses of higher learning. The Higher Education Act (101 of 1997) as amended has entrusted the Council of a university with the role to govern the institution and the principal (Vice-Chancellor) with the responsibility to manage ...

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2023-w1893 - 19 June 2023

Sanele Sethembeni Zondo to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Considering that South African universities often come under criticism due to their financial mismanagement, blatant corruption, and the credibility of the qualifications obtained and/or lack thereof, what active steps does his department take to ensure that they follow up on the specified concerns and address them, since a threat to the credibility of domestic qualifications simply means that our higher education system in its entirety will eventually come under scrutiny?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 19 Jun 2023

In terms of section 27 (1) the Higher Education Act, it is the Council of a public higher education institution which must govern the institution. In respect of financial mismanagement or presumed corruption, especially where an institution does not comply with conditions linked to allocations from money appropriated by Parliament, Minister may request the Council to comply. In terms of Section 42, should the ...

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2023-w1922 - 19 June 2023

Paulnita Marais to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

Whether his department has looked into the extent of the problems brought up by students who are subjected to Southpoint due to the failure to provide student accommodation; if not, why not; if so, what are the reasons that his department has not (a) banned Southpoint from doing business in the Republic and (b) taken control of its properties to guarantee that students have a safe and healthy place to live?

Reply from the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation on 19 Jun 2023

South Point are private providers of student accommodation and support several universities in the Western Cape and Gauteng. The Department is not aware of complaints about South Point and has not received any complaints from students on accommodation provided by South Point. Hon. Marais is requested to provide more details about the complaints so that further investigations can be conducted, and comprehensive response be ...

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