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Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called for a more comprehensive and balanced approach to gender equality in the African higher education sector.

Delivering the keynote address at the 3rd Edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) Africa Universities Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, Manamela warned that progress in access for women has not yet translated into equal power or opportunity.

He emphasised that gender equality must go beyond enrolment figures and address deeper structural inequalities within institutions and society.

“There is no neutral education system. Paulo Freire reminded us that there is no such thing as a neutral education process. Education either reproduces the world as it is or helps us transform it.

“When we speak about equity, diversity, inclusion, and gender equality in African higher education, we should be clear that we are not discussing a side issue, or a matter of institutional image. We are discussing who gets access to knowledge, who succeeds, who leads, who is left behind, and what kind of society our universities help to build,” Manamela said.

Held under the theme: “Powering Africa’s future through talent development, innovation and inclusion”, the two-day brought together higher education leaders, policymakers and sector stakeholders to engage on critical issues shaping the future of the continent.

Among the key areas of focus included global challenges; innovation and entrepreneurship; start-up ecosystems; work readiness and skills development; and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in higher education.

Manamela highlighted significant gains made by women in South Africa’s higher education system, where women currently make up the majority of university students and graduates, accounting for 62.7% of enrolments and 65.4% of graduates in 2023.

“Women are not only entering higher education in larger numbers; they are also graduating in larger numbers. These reflects long struggles for access, democracy and redistribution. It reflects public policy, public investment, and social change far beyond the education sector itself.

‘It [also] tells us that what happens in higher education is not merely the achievement of universities. It is also a reflection of wider shifts in households, communities, aspirations, social movements and the democratic order. But that is only one side of the story Because if we stop there, we tell the wrong story,” Manamela said.

However, the Minister warned against viewing these gains as the end of the gender equality journey. Instead, he described a “contradiction” in the system: while women dominate enrolment and graduation, they remain underrepresented in positions of authority.

The leadership gap

He highlighted the academic gap in staffing profile, where among professors in South African universities, women account for only about a third, with 1 129 female professors compared to 2 216 men.

He stressed that equity, diversity and inclusion must be measured across the full academic chain, from access and progression to employment, leadership and institutional power.

The Minister also highlighted similar patterns in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), where women make up the majority of enrolments overall, yet remain underrepresented in certain skills programmes traditionally dominated by men.

This, he said, reflects broader societal patterns that continue to shape opportunities along gender lines.

Challenging common assumptions, Manamela pointed out that women are increasingly represented in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) fields in South Africa.

However, that participation does not automatically translate into equality in career advancement, research leadership or earnings.

Manamela highlighted the role of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) as a key instrument of gender transformation, with women accounting for over two-thirds of beneficiaries and receiving the majority of funding. – SAnews.gov.za
 

As we breathe a collective sigh of relief at the arrival of the long-awaited Easter Holiday period, all of us are worthy of a big slice of cake, for having made it through the first quarter of 2026.

By no means am I saying that travelling to be with family and loved ones in other provinces for this period has by any stretch of the imagination, been a piece of cake, nor very economical to do.

What it does mean is that you travelled safely to get to your destination this long weekend, and that is no small feat, given that long weekends and holidays come with increased traffic volumes and the likelihood of being involved in road accidents.

And, as pilgrims across the various denominations don their uniform or Sunday best to attend Easter services at various churches, and others explore the tourist attractions the country has to offer, government urges everyone to continue adhering to road safety regulations diligently.

For those on a staycation, due to financial or work commitments, your path has not been a walk in the park either. Despite our differences, one thing that is certain about South Africans, is our resilient nature, which seems to be built into our DNA, together with our rugby accolades. But, I digress. 

South Africans always manage to climb the mountains they must, whether it is putting children through school, job hunting without losing heart, or keeping their heads above water at a time when the cost of living continues to bite.

Government has not been deaf to these challenges and continues to seek ways to improve the quality of life of our nation through initiatives like the social grants that go up this month, following the increase announced in the 2026 National Budget, job creation initiatives like the Youth Employment Service – known as YES – which has provided work experience opportunities to more than 220 000 young people.

Recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the creation of jobs is government’s foremost priority, given that a job is more than just an income, but about dignity, confidence, a sense of belonging, and the ability to contribute to one’s community and society.

In as much as this holiday period is about family traditions like Easter egg hunts, large servings of curried fish after church and afternoon naps, it is also about communities coming together to care for one another. 

It is about the simple act of breaking bread with neighbours who may have less than you. It is about not forgetting our sense of ubuntu, where a plate of nibbles and good conversation can make all the difference to someone.

As we recharge our batteries over the next few days, let us also reflect on those quintessential aspects of what makes us South Africans – such as our diversity, our ability to laugh even in tough times, our rich languages and outspokenness and of course, our love for sport and good braai meat. 

We also ought to take some time to reflect on Freedom Month which, is commemorated annually in April. As the country moves towards the Local Government Elections, the date of which is still to be proclaimed, let us use this time to map how far our country has come since the historic elections of 27 April 1994.

This is as President Nelson Mandela once said in the system of apartheid: “The oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.” 

Let us not take our freedom for granted.

Yes, things are not perfect; many communities still struggle with access to water, inequality and the bugbear that is unemployment continues to plague the country – but we enjoy civic liberties like the right to vote, as enshrined in the Constitution, which marks 30 years of existence this year.

When the time comes to vote, let us not be apathetic, but rather exercise this hard-won right.

And, as you sit on the stoep or under your favourite tree these holidays, remember that your country needs you. It needs you not only on voting day, but also to make your voice heard when government issues requests for public comment on legislations, regulations and the like. 

Your presence and voice matter. 

Do enjoy your downtime for now and come back refreshed and ready to help build a better South Africa. – SAnews.gov.za

*Neo Semono is a Features Editor at SAnews.gov.za.

The handover of new water infrastructure in Thembalethu, George, has brought renewed hope to residents, with the project expected to improve water security while supporting local skills development and future employment opportunities.

The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) officially unveiled the state-of-the-art reservoir, pump station and reservoir tower under Phase 12 of the Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) project.

Funded through the National Treasury to the value of the R1.4 billion, the George BFI project is aimed at ensuring a reliable and sustainable supply of potable water to meet both current demand and future population growth.

BFI Project Manager Andrea Scheepers said approximately R327 million of the total investment has been allocated to benefit Thembalethu residents directly. This includes 20% funding for bulk water infrastructure such as raw water augmentation, storage and treatment, as well as targeted local upgrades.

The project involved the replacement of a 250mm bulk potable water pipeline spanning 1.9 kilometres, stretching from near the central business district along the N2 to the western reservoir tower.

Speaking at this week’s handover in Thembalethu East, Western Cape DWS Head Ntombizanele Bila-Mupariwa noted that the project will serve as a catalyst for socio-economic development in George.

“Beyond enhancing water security, the project will improve drinking water quality and contribute to the reduction of pollution in key watercourses,” she said.

Bila-Mupariwa called on residents to take collective responsibility in safeguarding the infrastructure, emphasising the importance of preventing vandalism to ensure its long-term sustainability.

During the construction phase of the projects, a number of local jobs were created. The project has also contributed to skills development that could improve future employment prospects for community members.

The department highlighted that ageing and failing infrastructure remains one of the primary causes of water challenges faced by municipalities across the country. The department urged Water Services Authorities to start implementing preventative maintenance, including regular inspections and scheduled servicing, to address potential defects before they become a major problem.

The George BFI Infrastructure has been designed with resilience in mind. In the event of severe emergency with prolonged failure of both bulk supply pipes, the Thembalethu East Tower can supply water backwards to the Thembalethu West reservoir, which can supply Thembalethu West and Zone 9 in turn.

The project forms part of ongoing efforts to modernise water infrastructure and improve service delivery, particularly in growing urban communities. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) Commissioner Edward Kieswetter has thanked the nation’s compliant taxpayers after the revenue service recorded a historic R2 trillion in net tax collections for the 2025/26 financial year.

Kieswetter announced the record-breaking collections during a presentation of the preliminary revenue outcome for the financial year on Wednesday.

READ | SARS exceeds R2 trillion in 2025/26 net revenue collection

He emphasised that the unprecedented collections are not merely a financial statistic but a testament to the collective fiscal responsibility of taxpayers who comply with their duties.

“We’ve always maintained that without SARS, our democracy would be unfunded because SARS is a story about people – the 62 million people whom we serve. Everyone pays taxes because when you buy at the till you pay taxes, so we have 62 million taxpayers.

“The record achievement we reached today is because of all compliant taxpayers; I would like to thank them for their fiscal citizenship and contribution to help the most vulnerable in our society,” Kieswetter said.

The Commissioner noted that while the revenue service’s mandate is clear, to collect taxes, ensure compliance and facilitate legitimate trade, the organisation has adopted a deeper mission.

“[We] chose something which is not cast in law, and we frame it as our higher purpose. It is the reason of our existence.

“And this…is unequivocally that our work enables government to build a capable state that fosters sustainable economic growth and social development, ultimately serving the wellbeing of South Africans,” he said.

Kieswetter described SARS’ work as transformative to the lives of ordinary South Africans.

“Every Rand not only helps build a capable state that honours the social contract but also enables the state to deliver for all South Africans and strengthen fiscal integrity of South Africa.

“We remind ourselves every day that our work is transformative. And while wealthy people can buy themselves out of pandemics [and] can insure themselves against failure…poor people only have government to look to. So, it is those vulnerable whom we serve,” the Commissioner reflected.

Stemming illicit flows

Yet this “transformative” work faces a persistent threat in the form of illicit activities which hamper optimal revenue collections.

According to SARS, the economy loses some R100 billion each year to criminal activities including smuggling, customs and excise fraud, under declaration, counterfeit trade, fuel and tobacco syndicates and organised tax crime.

“People who buy illicit goods often believe they are getting a bargain.

“In reality, they are funding the destruction of legitimate businesses and jobs, shrinking the country’s tax base, and weakening the very institutions meant to serve them,” Kieswetter noted.

He added that the cost of the illicit economy is “paid by society at large” and warned that the revenue service is clamping down on such activities.

The Commissioner’s warning is not without merit as in March this year, SARS announced that it had executed search and seizure operations against six of its own customs officials for allegedly colluding with importers in a scheme that under-declared taxable income by R45 million.

In September last year, SARS together with law enforcement seized a truck loaded with illicit cigarettes worth some R10 million in the Western Cape.

A month later, the revenue collector secured a sequestration order against alleged illicit tobacco player, Roy Muleya over a R155 million tax debt linked to a company he is a director in.

“We will not allow criminal syndicates to hollow out the tax system. SARS, working with other law-enforcement agencies, is determined to disrupt, dismantle, and shut down illicit trading networks, and to make non-compliance hard and costly,” Kieswetter said. – SAnews.gov.za

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called on African universities to fundamentally rethink inclusion, stressing that disability must be treated as a central design principle rather than an afterthought.

Speaking at the 3rd Edition of the Times Higher Education (THE) Africa Universities Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, Manamela said current participation rates for students with disabilities highlight the scale of exclusion across the sector.

In South Africa, students living with disabilities accounted for just 1.3% of public university enrolments in 2023, while across the broader post-school education and training system the figure stood at roughly 1%.

“These are not figures of inclusion at scale. They are signs of how much work remains to be done,” the Minister said.

Manamela argued that meaningful inclusion requires systemic change, extending beyond admissions to the way institutions are structured and operated.

He said the problem is not only at the point of admission, but also in infrastructure.

“The problem lies in infrastructure, digital design, assistive technology, curriculum adaptation, staff training, and whether institutions are built on the principle of universal accessibility or on the assumption of a ‘normal’ student. Inclusion is not a speech. It is design,” the Minister said.

Manamela highlighted that gender equality in higher education varies significantly across the continent.

While South Africa has achieved a female majority in enrolment, much of sub-Saharan Africa still faces barriers to women’s access to tertiary education, with roughly 80 women enrolled for every 100 men.

Using Kenya as an example, he noted that tertiary enrolment stands at about 13% for men and 10% for women, underscoring that parity remains a challenge in many countries.

Call for measurable justice and systemic reform

The Minister urged higher education leaders to shift from symbolic commitments to measurable outcomes, including publishing detailed, disaggregated data on enrolment, retention, completion, employment outcomes, disability access and leadership representation.

“Without that, we do not have transformation. We have anecdotes,” he said.

He also warned against simplistic narratives around gender, warning that progress for women should not obscure persistent inequalities, nor should concerns about declining male participation undermine efforts toward gender justice.

“The task is not to choose between women and men. The task is to build institutions capable of producing equality for all.”

Manamela also stressed that challenges within higher education reflect broader societal dynamics, including poverty, labour market inequality, social conditions and access to resources.

“The higher education question is inseparable from the social question,” he said, calling for coordinated reforms that include funding, curriculum transformation, safe and accessible campuses, and stronger links to the labour market.

Toward a more inclusive future

Manamela said South Africa’s experience demonstrates both the potential and the limitations of policy-driven change.

While progress has been made in expanding access, particularly for women, deeper inequalities persist in leadership, employment outcomes, and disability inclusion.

“Our task is to build an education system that reflects the society we want: balanced, fair, accessible and equal. Not access without success. Not inclusion without power. But real equality,” Manamela said. – SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Paul Mashatile Mashatile will attend the Amandla Ngawethu Good Friday church service of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG).

The Easter service will be held at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, Gauteng.

“The Deputy President has been tasked by the President to lead government’s interaction with the inter-faith communities across South Africa as a champion of the country’s social cohesion and nation-building initiatives. 

“The 2026 theme, ‘The Family at the Foot of the Cross’, focuses on strengthening the family unit and empowering communities to break cycles of violence, abuse, conflict and social fragmentation,” the Presidency said on Wednesday.

The event further highlights the role of faith-based organisations in promoting social cohesion, crime prevention and community resilience.

“Although Deputy President Mashatile has, in this role, traversed the length and breadth of the country, attending various congregations and worshipping with various religious denominations, including the Muslim, Hindu, Christian and African Churches communities, it will be the first time that he attends the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God Easter service in his capacity as the Deputy President of the Republic,” the Presidency explained.

The Deputy President will be joined by the Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, the Gauteng MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko as well as senior government officials.

The church service is expected to get underway at 10am. – SAnews.gov.za