Unpacking the R5.8 Million International Travel Expenditure

The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in South Africa has come under intense scrutiny following revelations that Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela and his two deputies, Mimmy Gondwe and Nomusa Dube-Ncube, incurred a staggering R5.8 million in costs for 17 international trips over an eight-month period from March to November 2025. This expenditure covers airfare, luxury accommodation, daily allowances, delegation expenses, and various fees, averaging approximately R341,000 per trip across 14 different countries.

These trips were ostensibly aimed at fostering international education diplomacy, securing academic collaborations, participating in global forums, and attracting foreign students to South African universities and colleges. However, the timing and scale of this spending have sparked outrage, particularly as the higher education sector grapples with acute domestic challenges such as student funding delays through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), severe accommodation shortages, and rising tuition fees at institutions like the University of Cape Town (UCT), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), and Stellenbosch University.

In a sector where over 720,000 students seek university places annually amid capacity constraints— with only about 235,000 spots available—such expenditures raise fundamental questions about fiscal priorities and accountability.

Minister Manamela's High-Profile Journeys: Destinations and Costs

Minister Buti Manamela, who assumed office in July 2025 after serving as Deputy Minister, led several costly delegations. His itinerary included visits to Ethiopia for bilateral education talks, France (notably Paris) for UNESCO-related engagements, Brazil and Colombia for South-South cooperation on higher education reforms, Cuba for skills exchange programs, Turkey for technical vocational education and training (TVET) partnerships, Ireland for research collaborations, and Switzerland for global higher education forums. These eight trips alone cost R2.4 million.

A standout example is the Paris trip, which tallied R834,143: R160,737 on airfare and a whopping R673,406 on accommodation, highlighting the premium nature of these travels. Each journey involved multi-member delegations, amplifying costs through per diems and logistics.

Proponents argue these engagements are vital for elevating South African universities' global rankings, securing research grants, and facilitating student and faculty exchanges that benefit institutions like the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University of Pretoria.

Deputy Ministers' Contributions to the Travel Bill

Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe's trips, including a lavish New York visit from March 7-17, 2025, with four staff members, clocked in at R1.6 million. This covered extensive vehicle hires, high-end hotels, and subsistence allowances in one of the world's priciest cities. Gondwe focused on engagements with UN bodies and US universities to promote South African TVET colleges and attract international partnerships.

Deputy Nomusa Dube-Ncube complemented this with trips to additional destinations, contributing to the overall tally. The deputies' travels emphasized skills development and artisan training collaborations, crucial for South Africa's TVET sector, which serves over 700,000 students but faces infrastructure deficits.

• New York (Gondwe): R1.6 million – UN forums, university partnerships
• Multiple African and European stops: Focus on bilateral agreements
• Total deputy spending: Approximately R3.4 million combined

While these outings aim to position South African colleges globally, critics note the lack of publicized tangible outcomes, such as signed MOUs or increased enrollment from partner countries.

Parliamentary Scrutiny and Calls for Accountability

During recent parliamentary portfolio committee meetings, Members of Parliament (MPs) grilled DHET officials on the travel ledger. ActionSA MP Alan Beesly labeled it "alarming profligacy and out-of-touch misuse of taxpayer funds," demanding full breakdowns, delegation rosters, and post-trip impact reports. MPs rejected the department's initial justifications, citing insufficient transparency on how these trips advance national priorities like graduate employability amid 60% youth unemployment.

The DHET defended the spending as essential for "education diplomacy," arguing that partnerships yield long-term benefits like joint research projects at universities such as North-West University (NWU). However, without detailed outcome metrics, skepticism persists.News24 full report

Contrasting Luxury Travel with Student Struggles in 2026

Juxtaposed against this opulence are the dire realities at South African universities. As the 2026 academic year kicked off, protests erupted at Wits, UCT, Stellenbosch, and Nelson Mandela University (NMU) over NSFAS payment delays affecting 189,000 students, fee exclusions, and accommodation shortfalls. At UCT alone, 2,883 students benefited from fee relief, yet thousands remain excluded due to historical debt.

The accommodation crisis is acute: universities can house only a fraction of applicants, with private providers charging R31,000 to R120,000 annually, far beyond NSFAS allowances. Students have blockaded campuses, demanding interventions, while Minister Manamela briefed Parliament on readiness amid these unrests.

Redirecting even a portion of the R5.8 million could fund emergency housing or mental health services for first-year students facing a well-documented crisis.

Broader Context: DHET Budget and Higher Education Pressures

The DHET's overall budget for 2025/26 exceeds R100 billion, with R50.5 billion earmarked for universities and R54.3 billion for NSFAS. Yet, economic constraints have led to proposed 4.15% fee hikes, straining the "missing middle"—students ineligible for aid. TVET colleges, key to artisan training, suffer from faculty shortages and infrastructure woes.Parliament on HE compliance

Foreign staff hiring controversies—77% non-compliance at some universities—add to scrutiny, as committees urge adherence to immigration laws while domestic academics face job insecurity. For career seekers in higher ed, explore higher education jobs to navigate these challenges.

Public and Student Reactions: Outrage on Social Media

Social media erupted, with X (formerly Twitter) posts decrying the "world tour" amid 656,000 matric passes chasing limited spots. Student unions like SAUS lamented SONA 2026's silence on debt and housing, while governance reps questioned: "When students struggle to register... millions on travel raises questions."

• Hashtags like #ManamelaWorldTour trend with memes on luxury vs. student squats
• Calls for audits and travel caps
• Support from some for global ties boosting university rankings

Potential Benefits: Did the Trips Yield Results?

Defenders highlight successes: strengthened South-South ties (e.g., Colombia's GLOSOUTH event), potential for increased PhD exchanges, and TVET models from Turkey. Ireland collaborations could enhance UJ's research output, aiding employability. Yet, absent concrete metrics—like new MOUs or enrollment upticks—value remains debatable.

To maximize impact, DHET should mandate post-trip reports detailing partnerships, much like corporate accountability standards.

Solutions and Reforms for Transparent Spending

Stakeholders propose:

• Stricter pre-approval for trips with capped delegations
• Mandatory outcome reports within 30 days
• Redirect 10-20% savings to NSFAS housing fund
• Virtual diplomacy for routine engagements

Parliament could enforce via budget oversight. For academics eyeing leadership, higher ed career advice emphasizes fiscal prudence. Institutions like UWC renaming proposals signal renewal amid fiscal storms.

Photo by Patrick Duvanel on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Balancing Global Ambitions with Domestic Needs

As 2026 unfolds, with budget votes looming, DHET faces pressure to align spending with imperatives like AI integration at NMU and predictive dropout tools. Successful reforms could restore trust, positioning South African universities as African leaders. Job seekers, rate professors via Rate My Professor and pursue faculty positions. Constructive dialogue offers hope for equitable higher education.

Explore South African academic opportunities amid these debates.