Universities South Africa

Formation	9 May 2005
Type	Association of universities
Location	Pretoria, South Africa
Membership	26
Chief Executive Officer	Dr Phethiwe Matutu
Website	www.usaf.ac.za

Universities South Africa ("USAf".), formerly known as Higher Education South Africa or HESA, is an umbrella body representative of the 26 public universities in South Africa. USAf endorses a comprehensive and equitable national higher education system responsive to South Africa's challenges. Through lobbying and advocacy, USAf promotes and facilitates an optimal environment conducive for universities to function effectually and maximally contribute to the social, cultural, and economic advancement of South Africa and its people. USAf board is made up of 26 Vice-Chancellors drawn from member universities.^[1] These captains of academia were strongly committed to digital transformation during the pandemic.^[2] The commitment shown by USAf to “facilitating an optimal environment conducive for universities to function effectively” ^[3] has also extended into matters of transparency around remuneration.

Background

Universities South Africa (USAf) is a membership organisation of the (current) 26 public universities in South Africa. USAf, previously known as Higher Education South Africa (HESA), was formed on 9 May 2005 as the successor to the two statutory representative organisations for universities and technikons (now universities of technology), the South African Universities Vice-Chancellors Association (SAUVCA) and the Committee of Technikon Principals (CTP). The launch of HESA was partly driven by the restructuring of the higher education sector, which resulted in the establishment of new institutional types and the need for a robust and unified body of leadership. USAf represents all 26 public universities and universities of technology in South Africa and is a Section 21 company.

SAUVCA was established as a statutory body for the 21 public universities in South Africa by the Universities Act (Act 61 of 1955). As a statutory body, it made recommendations to the Minister and Director-General of Education on matters referred to or any other issues deemed necessary for universities. The CTP was a national higher education association established in 1967 regarding the Advanced Technical Education Act (No. 40 of 1967). It consisted of the rectors, principals and [Chancellor (education)|Vice-Chancellors] of technikons in South Africa.

HESA changed its name to Universities South Africa on 22 July 2015.

Programmes

The Universities South Africa programmes include the following:

• Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education
• Higher Education Leadership and Management Programme (HELM)
• Higher Education Price Index (HEPI) .

Higher Education Enrolment Services Programme

• Matriculation Board

Members

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• Central University of Technology
• Durban University of Technology
• Mangosuthu University of Technology
• Nelson Mandela University
• North-West University
• Rhodes University
• Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
• Sol Plaatje University
• Stellenbosch University
• Tshwane University of Technology
• University of South Africa
• University of the Free State
• University of Cape Town
• University of Fort Hare
• University of Johannesburg
• University of KwaZulu-Natal
• University of Limpopo
• University of Mpumalanga
• University of Pretoria
• University of the Western Cape
• University of the Witwatersrand
• University of Venda
• University of Zululand
• Vaal University of Technology
• Walter Sisulu University

USAf and NSFAS

2023 marked a seminal point in government spending patterns. For the first time government allocated more money to NSFAS than to universities. ^[4]Non-payment of NSFAS funds in 2024 have created new challenges for universities. ^[5] While South Africa is funding students' access to higher education through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme ( NSFAS) there hasn't been a visible improvement in Higher Education. ^[6]

Enquiry into VC remuneration

In a recent Council on Higher Education (CHE) led probe ^[7] entitled an "Inquiry into the Remuneration of University Vice-Chancellors and Senior Executive Managers in South Africa", many serious issues pertaining to governance within some of the 26 member institutions were highlighted.^[8] USAf have stated their support for the inquiry and intend to regain the public's trust about their financial management. ^[9]However, until substantive issues are addressed directly, history has shown that these self serving patterns in universities will, in all probability, linger. ^[10] The CHE inquiry into remuneration was supposed to be completed by March 2021. ^[11] but the final inquiry to parliament was delivered on the 21 Feb 2024. three years late.^[12] Among many issues raised, poor institutional governance and management and lax financial practices was highlighted. ^[13]This disparity in salaries has been dragging on for almost a decade.^[14] According to CHE 2024 report, a VC earns 12.3 times more than a general worker and ongoing salary increases have been compared to a runaway train. ^[15]The DHET has also committed itself to establishing an ombuds system, ^[16] to assist with resolving ongoing issues within the tertiary education.