USAf Refutes Reports Saying SA Top Universities Are Collapsing 

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Johannesburg – Universities South Africa (USAf) has refuted suggestions that “South Africa’s biggest universities are collapsing”.

USAf, charged with improving the sustainability of the universities, financially, environmentally, and in terms of staffing, said reports in that regard were inaccurate.

In a statement made available to The Bulrushes, USAf said: “Universities South Africa (USAf) notes, with serious concern, the recent article published by Daily Investor on 19 April 2026, titled ‘South Africa’s biggest universities are collapsing’.”

The article, which quotes Dr. Sefoko Ramoshaba, says many of South Africa’s biggest universities were gradually being undermined by mismanagement, corruption, and political interference, leading to dysfunction and potential collapse.

The article further states that Dr. Ramoshaba has held management positions at major South African universities, including Vaal University of Technology, University of Johannesburg, and Nelson Mandela University.

“The main symptoms of these failures are colour-coded as poor governance, financial irregularities, and interference by non-university actors in university management, mostly politicians,” Dr. Ramoshaba was quoted as saying.

Disputing this assertion, USAf stated that the article makes “sweeping and damaging claims”, which, rather than contributing constructively to an informed public discourse, serve to undermine confidence in the public higher education system.

“Of particular concern is the manner in which the reputations of no fewer than 10 public universities are impugned through unsubstantiated insinuations of mismanagement, corruption, institutional dysfunction, and poor governance,” the statement said.

“In the absence of credible evidence, such assertions are both
irresponsible and prejudicial.

“It is particularly disappointing that the principal commentary informing this article is attributed to a staff member of one of our public universities—an individual who, by virtue of their academic role, would be expected to appreciate the fundamental importance of evidence-based analysis in
substantiating claims of this nature.”

In the statement, USAf, however, acknowledges that the sector faces real pressures.

Commenting further on the matter, USAf CEO Dr. Phathiwe Matutu, said: “We must admit Universities are experiencing financial strain, driven by a growing student population without a corresponding increase in State funding.

“These pressures create operational challenges. But challenges do not imply a collapse of universities.

“Even under these conditions, it would be a stretch to suggest that institutions are collapsing.

“The claim lacks merit.”

Dr. Matutu also emphasised that the sector has repeatedly called for increased investment in academic programmes, infrastructure, and student support.

“We have consistently flagged the need for more funding to match the growing demand for access.

“But to leap from funding pressures to claims of systemic collapse is irresponsible and misleading.”

Universities are autonomous institutions

She stresses that South African universities are, by law, autonomous institutions.

“Universities are independent entities, and neither Vice-Chancellors nor Councils would promote or condone the erosion of governance in the institutions they lead,” Dr. Matutu said.

“It is their responsibility to protect the integrity of the academic programme, institutional autonomy and academic freedom, vigorously and without
compromise.”

Dr. Matutu points out that while universities are not immune to the governance and corruption challenges facing our country, its sectors and institutions, the national system of innovation and the higher education sector have held up well, even in these difficult times.

“Universities remain stable, governed well, and operationally sound,” she said.

Regarding the competitiveness of South African Universities, USAf noted that several South African universities continue to be well sought after as international partners globally.

“Global benchmarking studies show steady improvement across multiple
institutions,” said Dr. Matutu, a mathematician by discipline, who obtained her PhD in Mathematics at the University of Cape Town.

“That is not the behaviour of a system in collapse; it is evidence of resilience, excellence, and continuous improvement.”

She added that South African universities remain among the most respected on the continent and continue to produce graduates who are globally competitive.

USAf welcomes robust debate and evidence-based critique.

“We welcome constructive criticism that advances the role of universities in society,” says Dr. Matutu.

“What we reject are alarmist, baseless statements that paint the entire academic ecosystem with the same brush, without evidence and without context.

“Such claims do nothing to solve the real issues we face.”

Dr. Matutu reaffirmed USAf’s commitment to safeguarding the integrity and public value of South Africa’s universities.

“Our institutions remain pillars of knowledge production, social mobility, and national development,” said Dr. Matutu.

“They are not collapsing.

“They are confronting challenges – as universities globally are – and they continue to deliver excellence across teaching, research, and innovation.

“South Africa deserves responsible commentary, which is evidence-based and grounded in an understanding of the complexity of higher education.

“Anything less misleads the public and undermines the very institutions working tirelessly to serve the nation.”

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