Parliamentary Oversight at Walter Sisulu University: Portfolio Committee Conducts Visit to WSU Komani Campus Amid Higher Education Concerns

Portfolio Committee Launches Oversight at WSU Komani Campus

On February 2, 2026, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, chaired by Mr Teboho Letsie, conducted a full-day oversight visit to Walter Sisulu University's (WSU) Komani Campus in Queenstown, Eastern Cape. Running from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, this on-site inspection marks a critical step in Parliament's ongoing monitoring of South Africa's public universities. The committee aimed to evaluate WSU's preparedness for the 2026 academic year, focusing on pressing matters that have long plagued the institution.

This visit builds directly on WSU's briefing to the same committee in Cape Town on November 19, 2025, where university leaders outlined their governance, administration, teaching, and learning strategies. With thousands of students depending on WSU for quality education, the oversight underscores Parliament's commitment to ensuring stable leadership and functional systems across higher education institutions.

During the tour, committee members engaged with university management, toured facilities, and interacted with stakeholders. Early reports highlight discussions on how WSU is addressing chronic underfunding and operational hurdles to deliver a seamless academic start.

Background on Walter Sisulu University and Its Komani Campus

Walter Sisulu University, established in 2005 through the merger of the University of Transkei, Border Technikon, and Eastern Cape Technikon, serves as a vital hub for higher education in South Africa's rural Eastern Cape. Named after anti-apartheid activist Walter Sisulu, the university embodies the post-apartheid push to transform and expand access to tertiary education, particularly for underserved communities.

WSU operates across four campuses: Mthatha (main), Butterworth, Buffalo City in East London, and Komani in Queenstown. The Komani Campus, also known as the Queenstown Campus, specializes in programs like engineering, education, and health sciences, contributing significantly to local skills development. With approximately 30,000 students and 1,800 staff members, WSU plays a pivotal role in regional economic growth and social mobility.

However, as a product of South Africa's university merger era, WSU has grappled with integration challenges, including fragmented infrastructure and administrative silos. These issues are not unique; many merged institutions face similar teething problems, but WSU's rural focus amplifies the stakes for student success and institutional sustainability.

Recent leadership changes, including the appointment of Dr Thandi Mgwebi as Vice-Chancellor in January 2026, signal a renewed push for stability and excellence under the university's Vision 2030 strategy.

Key Focus Areas of the Parliamentary Oversight

The Portfolio Committee's agenda zeroed in on four core pillars: governance, infrastructure, student accommodation, and overall institutional capacity. Here's a breakdown of each:

• Governance: Assessing the strength of WSU's Council, senior management, and decision-making processes. Parliament emphasized democratic inclusion of students, staff, and alumni to foster accountability.
• Infrastructure: Inspecting facilities amid reports of deteriorating buildings, inadequate classrooms, and basic service failures like bucket toilets for staff—issues highlighted in prior committee sessions.
• Student Accommodation: Evaluating residence availability and quality, crucial as enrollment pressures mount with over 300,000 applications received recently.
• Capacity for Academic Delivery: Reviewing readiness for teaching, learning, research output, and support services to ensure a disruption-free 2026 year.

These areas reflect Parliament's blueprint for success, drawn from successful oversight in Limpopo, where stable governance led to smoother operations.

Historical Challenges Facing WSU

WSU's journey has been marked by significant hurdles. Post-merger, the university faced financial strain from outdated funding models that fail to account for rural costs. In November 2025, MPs expressed shock at revelations of students enduring poor living conditions and staff using improvised sanitation.

Other incidents include violent protests in 2025, resulting in fatalities—a residence manager shooting a protesting student and the murder of a university official. These underscore deeper security and tension issues. Past scandals, like unaccredited programs in 2022 and a R14 million NSFAS overpayment embezzlement, eroded trust.

Financially, underfunding exacerbates infrastructure decay. WSU's 2024 Annual Report notes pressures on grants, while asset management and supply chain policies have drawn scrutiny. Despite this, progress includes ranking fifth nationally for UN Sustainable Development Goals impact and rising doctoral outputs.

In the Eastern Cape context, where rural poverty is high, these challenges hinder access to quality education, perpetuating inequality cycles.

Insights from the November 2025 Committee Briefing

In Cape Town, WSU leaders presented a candid report. Positives included a robust Council with experts, filled senior roles, and Institutional Statutes approved in 2024. Vision 2030 drives academic restoration, with gains in research and gender-balanced leadership.

Challenges candidly addressed: gender-based violence (mitigated via policies and safe spaces), campus security (CCTV and upgrades), accommodation shortages, and funding gaps. The briefing prompted the Komani visit to verify on-ground progress.

MPs probed financial crises rooted in underfunding, per WSU's Prof Ngcukaitobi, urging stronger accountability. This dialogue strengthened WSU's parliamentary voice while flagging urgent interventions.

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Oversight

WSU management views the visit positively, as an opportunity to showcase improvements under new leadership. Social media posts from WSU highlight committee scrutiny of challenges and walkabouts revealing infrastructure strains, but affirm commitment to resolutions.

Students, via representative councils, have voiced frustrations over fees, results withholding, and security cuts. Unions echo infrastructure woes, advocating for better working conditions.

Committee Chairperson Letsie stressed leadership's role, drawing parallels to Limpopo successes. Broader observers, including ActionSA, call for financial accountability to prevent mismanagement.

For academics and administrators, such oversight signals job stability tied to reforms—opportunities for those skilled in turnaround management abound in South African higher ed. Explore higher ed admin jobs or university jobs tailored for ZA.

Broader Context: Higher Education Crises in South Africa

WSU's situation mirrors systemic issues in SA universities. Post-merger institutions like University of Fort Hare face similar governance and funding woes. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) grapples with enrollment surges—WSU alone fielded 300,000+ applications—against static subsidies.

Key stats: SA public universities serve over 1 million students, but infrastructure backlogs exceed R50 billion. NSFAS delays and protests disrupt calendars annually. Rural unis like WSU bear disproportionate loads, with 40% of students from low-income homes.

Government responses include Vision 2030-inspired turnarounds, but experts urge funding reforms. For aspiring lecturers, mastering these dynamics is key; check career advice on becoming a lecturer.

Potential Solutions and Institutional Reforms

WSU's path forward hinges on multi-stakeholder action:

• Implement Vision 2030: Prioritize tech-infused teaching and research.
• Infrastructure Investment: Partner with DHET for upgrades, as in recent lab modernizations.
• Governance Enhancements: Boost transparency via statutes and audits.
• Funding Advocacy: Lobby for rural-adjusted subsidies.
• Student Support: Expand NSFAS integration and residences.

New VC Mgwebi's focus on renewal offers hope. Success stories from peer institutions show stable leadership yields enrollment growth and outputs.

Professionals eyeing lecturer jobs or professor jobs in SA should highlight reform experience.

Implications for Students, Staff, and Careers

For WSU's 30,000 students, positive oversight could mean smoother 2026—fewer disruptions, better facilities. Staff benefit from improved conditions, retaining talent amid national lecturer shortages.

In higher ed careers, oversight drives demand for governance experts, researchers, and admins. South Africa's academic job market values resilience; rate your professors at Rate My Professor or seek advice via higher ed career advice.

Post-visit recommendations may unlock grants, stabilizing employment.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Future Outlook for WSU and South African Higher Education

Optimism tempers caution: WSU's SDG ranking and doctoral gains position it for growth. National trends—rising STEM demand, IKS initiatives—align with strengths.

Parliament's vigilance ensures accountability, potentially modeling reforms. For the sector, addressing underfunding via policy shifts is imperative.

Stakeholders urge collaboration. Job seekers, prepare with our free resume template for ZA university jobs. In conclusion, this oversight catalyzes positive change, benefiting students and educators alike.