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Department of Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has approved the Ministerial Statement on Student Enrolment Planning for Public Universities for the academic period 2026 to 2030, covering the associated funding cycle through to 2032/33. The approval follows a comprehensive planning process involving all 26 public universities across South Africa.
What Happened
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) led a detailed national planning process that included bilateral consultations with universities, a 2024 national workshop, and Council-approved institutional plans. The new targets project student enrolments to rise from 1.07 million in 2023 to 1.18 million by 2030, representing a steady 1.5% annual growth rate.
Official Response
Minister Manamela welcomed the commitment shown by universities but cautioned that the growth rate remains insufficient to meet the broader National Development Plan (NDP) targets.
“This enrolment plan provides much-needed stability and predictability for our system. But we must also be honest, at the current rate, we are unlikely to meet the full scope of our NDP targets by 2030,” he said.
He added that the plan is a baseline to re-engineer the post-school education and training system, with stronger integration between TVET colleges, community colleges, and universities.
Community Impact
The plan aims to ensure balanced growth across disciplines while boosting postgraduate output, staffing quality, and STEM participation. The DHET will monitor implementation annually, ensuring universities align their performance plans with national priorities.
