DHET briefing on foreign academics in the PSET sector; with Minister

Video The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training met to receive a briefing from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) on the employment of foreign nationals in the Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector and on selected departmental performance matters. The Committee said its inquiry arose from its oversight work rather than xenophobia, stressing that it supported the policy of internationalisation but expected compliance with the Employment Equity Act and the Immigration Act. DHET said it sought to balance employment equity with maintaining South African universities as centres of academic excellence. It acknowledged shortcomings in institutional data and announced reforms to the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS), as well as the establishment of an expert advisory panel to standardise reporting. DHET reported that audited 2024 data reflected 6 739 international academic staff, representing 7.7% of the academic workforce, while its fourth-quarter performance for the 2025/26 financial year stood at 82% of targets achieved with 99.9% budget expenditure. Members questioned the reliability of DHET's data, the absence of verified information on scarce skills, and whether institutions were complying with employment equity and immigration legislation. They also debated the treatment of permanent residents and naturalised citizens under employment equity legislation, raised concerns about long-standing vacancies in senior management posts, criticised delays in appointing a National Skills Fund Chief Executive Officer, and questioned repeated underspending on infrastructure despite persistent backlogs. DHET said it was strengthening HEMIS by making nationality and citizenship mandatory reporting fields and had established a task team with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and Universities South Africa (USAf) to verify visa information. It said workplace compliance enforcement fell primarily within the mandate of the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL), confirmed that an investigation into the failed National Skills Fund Chief Executive Officer recruitment process was underway, and advised that the Chief Financial Officer post was in the process of being filled. The Committee resolved to obtain independent legal advice on its oversight powers, convene a joint meeting with DHA, DEL and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), and pursue investigations into alleged unlawful appointments at specific institutions. The Committee emphasised that its oversight was aimed at ensuring lawful compliance, accountability and transformation within the PSET sector.