Recent Unrest at Nelson Mandela University Sparks National Concern

The North Campus of Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, became the epicenter of student frustration in mid-February 2026. Protests erupted on February 12, blocking key entrances with burning tires and barricades, halting academic activities across both North and South campuses. Students voiced grievances over chronic accommodation shortages, delays in National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding approvals, registration hurdles due to unpaid fees, and inadequate transport support. Demonstrations turned violent when private security and South African Police Service (SAPS) deployed rubber bullets, prompting the university to secure an interim high court interdict on February 13 to curb disruptions.

Nelson Mandela University, a comprehensive institution established in 2005 through the merger of previous universities, serves over 28,000 students, many reliant on NSFAS bursaries. The protests highlighted systemic pressures in South Africa's post-school education sector, where enrollment surges outpace infrastructure growth. By February 17, temporary housing offers emerged, but underlying issues persisted, fueling calls for higher-level intervention.

Root Causes: NSFAS Delays and Accommodation Crisis

At the heart of NMU's turmoil lie delays in NSFAS processing. The scheme, administered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), provides financial aid covering tuition, accommodation, living expenses, and books for eligible low-income students. In 2026, nationwide backlogs arose from new accreditation requirements for private student housing, aimed at curbing exploitative practices but inadvertently excluding thousands.

Financial exclusion—where students can't register due to debts or unapproved funding—compounded academic exclusion risks. NMU reported hundreds sleeping in lecture halls, underscoring a national crisis: South Africa's universities house only 30% of first-year students on-campus, pushing reliance on off-campus options plagued by safety issues and rent hikes. Broader data reveals over 200,000 'missing middle' students ineligible for NSFAS yet unable to self-fund.

• NSFAS owed institutions billions in historic debt, delaying 2026 disbursements.
• Private accommodation accreditation stalled approvals, leaving students homeless.
• Transport subsidies lagged, stranding rural commuters.
• Food insecurity affected 40% of aided students amid rising costs.

These factors mirror trends at other institutions like Durban University of Technology (DUT) and University of Cape Town (UCT), signaling a sector-wide strain.Explore career advice for navigating higher ed challenges.

DHET Launches Critical Oversight Visit to NMU

On February 27, 2026, DHET Acting Director-General Ms Thembisa Futshane led a high-level oversight team to NMU's North Campus. Accompanied by Deputy Director-General Professor Thandi Lewin (Universities Branch), NSFAS Chief Corporate Services Officer, Higher Health SA's Ms Stephanie Hendry, and Eastern Cape Regional Manager Mr Richard Mediroe, the visit assessed institutional readiness for the academic year and tackled compliance gaps fueling unrest.

The engagement reaffirmed DHET's focus on quality assurance, accountability, and student-centered governance. It aligned with national priorities for skills development, emphasizing responsive higher education amid enrollment pressures projected to hit 1.2 million by 2030.

Student and Labour Voices Dominate Discussions

NMU Student Representative Council (SRC) President Ms Somila Komani delivered a compelling presentation on student hardships: financial and academic exclusions, food gaps, and slow funding from NSFAS and private providers. She urged expedited processes, structural reforms for equity, and transparent governance to safeguard access.

Mr Jason Barkes, representing organized labour, stressed management's duty to uphold fairness, equity, and transformation. Discussions pinpointed NSFAS-university coordination failures as protest catalysts, with commitments to fast-track validations and payments.

For students eyeing faculty roles post-graduation, platforms like higher-ed faculty jobs offer pathways amid sector reforms.

Oversight Extends to Gqeberha CET College

Deputy Minister Dr Nomusa Dube-Ncube capped her Eastern Cape tour on the same day, visiting NMU followed by Gqeberha College of Excellence in Technology (CET)—a Community Education and Training (CET) institution akin to TVET colleges—and Sakhulwazi Community Learning Centre. CET colleges deliver NQF 1-4 programs for foundational skills, bridging to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

These visits scrutinized compliance with funding rules, infrastructure standards, and enrollment readiness. TVET/CET sectors face scrutiny over 77% foreign staff immigration lapses and governance shortfalls.DHET official site.

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TVET Sector's Compliance Struggles Exposed

South Africa's 50 TVET colleges enroll 700,000+ students in vocational programs, yet compliance failures abound. Parliament warned of unreliable foreign hiring data, weak oversight, and infrastructure decay contributing to protests. Recent audits flagged bogus qualifications and funding mismanagement.

DHET's interventions aim to enforce the Continuing Education and Training Act, standardizing quality.South Africa higher ed opportunities.

Parliament Highlights Dire Residence Conditions

Oversight by Parliament's Portfolio Committee revealed shocking residence states: rats, blocked toilets, broken facilities at KZN institutions like Mangosuthu University of Technology. Systemic neglect exacerbates protests, demanding urgent infrastructure investments.

Government Pledges Swift Reforms

DHET vows accelerated NSFAS payments, housing accreditations, and governance probes. Minister Buti Manamela's readiness briefings emphasize multi-stakeholder collaboration with Universities South Africa (USAf) and student unions. Budget 2026 allocates R54.3bn to NSFAS, R50.5bn to universities.

• Fast-track private housing approvals.
• Enhance food security via partnerships.
• Strengthen TVET compliance monitoring.
• Invest in mental health support post-protests.

Broader Challenges in SA Higher Education

2026 sees 1.3 million post-school learners amid 35% youth unemployment. NEP 2020-inspired reforms push vocational focus, but execution lags. AI tools for dropout prediction and hybrid learning offer hope.AI in SA higher ed.

Future Outlook: Sustainable Solutions Ahead

Success hinges on public-private partnerships for 100,000 new beds by 2030, digitized NSFAS, and skills-aligned curricula. Institutions like NMU lead with AI career guidance frameworks. Students, rate your professors at Rate My Professor and explore higher ed jobs.

Check academic CV tips for career boosts.

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Stakeholder Perspectives and Actionable Insights

Students demand equity; management seeks stability; DHET prioritizes compliance. Action steps: Verify NSFAS status weekly, apply early for housing, engage SRCs. For educators, university jobs abound in reforming sector.