Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela published draft amended reporting rules for public universities on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, saying tighter oversight will help detect problems before they escalate. The proposals, set to replace a 2014 framework and headed for public comment in the government gazette, follow unrest at the University of Fort Hare and the University of the Free State over governance and management concerns.
The draft requires midyear and annual reports with clear data on infrastructure backlogs, progress on transformation, employment equity, and student exclusions tied to unpaid fees. Universities must file records of engagements with student leaders, unions, and forums, signed by all parties, and disclose spending on outside experts, legal services, and any businesses they control or operate. The department says standardized timelines and clearer metrics will enable earlier intervention when councils or audit structures fail. Officials frame the plan as part of a broader push to stabilize campuses and improve service to students. Once gazetted, the public will have a chance to comment before final rules take effect.
The draft requires midyear and annual reports with clear data on infrastructure backlogs, progress on transformation, employment equity, and student exclusions tied to unpaid fees. Universities must file records of engagements with student leaders, unions, and forums, signed by all parties, and disclose spending on outside experts, legal services, and any businesses they control or operate. The department says standardized timelines and clearer metrics will enable earlier intervention when councils or audit structures fail. Officials frame the plan as part of a broader push to stabilize campuses and improve service to students. Once gazetted, the public will have a chance to comment before final rules take effect.
