South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training wants a seven-year investigation into the appointment of foreign nationals at universities.
The call follows concerns that some institutions may not be fully complying with the country’s labour and employment laws when recruiting foreign nationals.
The committee raised the issue during a meeting involving the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Higher Education and Training.
The discussions focused on the issuing of study and work permits to foreign nationals, as well as measures to ensure universities comply with relevant legislation.
Foreign nationals account for 16% of senior university management
Statistics presented by the Department of Employment and Labour showed that foreign nationals made up 16% of the professionally qualified senior management population at South African universities in 2025.
The figures also showed that African senior managers accounted for 41.9%, while white senior managers represented 25.3%. Indian senior managers made up 10%, with Coloured senior managers accounting for 6.9%.
Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie stressed that the proposed investigation should not be interpreted as an attack on foreign academics.
Instead, he said the committee supports internationalisation but wants universities to comply with legislation, including the Employment Services Act and Employment Equity Act.
Committee wants seven years of appointments examined
Letsie said the committee intends to follow the appropriate parliamentary procedures to request a special proclamation that would allow the appointment of foreign nationals at universities over the past seven years to be examined.
The proposed investigation would look at whether institutions followed the required processes and complied with South Africa’s employment regulations when making such appointments.
Letsie also called on the Department of Employment and Labour to enforce the country’s labour laws and take action against institutions found to be non-compliant.
Student accommodation also under scrutiny
The committee’s concerns extended beyond university staffing.
Student accommodation and the management of funding provided for accommodation also came under the spotlight.
Letsie said the committee continued to support the involvement of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in the accreditation of student accommodation.
He described student accommodation as both essential and an area that could become a lucrative opportunity for unscrupulous operators.
According to Letsie, the committee is aware of cases where universities have reportedly claimed accommodation payments for students who were placed in residences but were no longer staying there.
Such concerns have prompted calls for deeper investigations into how accommodation funding is administered.
SIU and Public Protector investigations welcomed
The committee also welcomed investigations by the Special Investigating Unit and Public Protector into allegations of maladministration, corruption and other wrongdoing within institutions falling under the Higher Education and Training portfolio.
Letsie said further scrutiny was necessary to address persistent problems surrounding funds intended to support students with accommodation.
The proposed seven-year probe could therefore become part of a broader effort to strengthen accountability, employment compliance and financial oversight across South Africa’s higher education sector.
