Universities South Africa sounds alarm on rising campus governance risks

Governance-related tension at several universities across South Africa is systemic rather than episodic, higher education leaders in the country say. Restoring integrity and protecting universities from political and commercial predation are priorities for Universities South Africa (USAf), the membership body representing all 26 public universities in South Africa. The extent to which institutional capture has taken root — not only through corruption but also through weakened governance cultures, blurred boundaries and leadership failures that hollow out the academic project itself — has shocked higher education leaders, according to a USAf report. Governance snapshot at some institutions The University of Fort Hare faces pressure from political and criminal capture and claims about the validity of degrees awarded to more than 30 people in the Eastern Cape; Mangosuthu University of Technology suffers from leadership instability and factional councils; Cape Peninsula University of Technology is strained by management–labour conflict and procurement tension; and Walter Sisulu University battles structural governance fragility and financial weakness. University of Fort Hare The UFH is experiencing one of the most severe governance crises in the sector, marked by violent contestation, political interference and heightened risks of institutional capture. Its vice-chancellor, professor Sakhela Buhlungu, is on precautionary suspension. The institution has faced assassination attempts and threats against senior staff linked to anti-corruption efforts, alongside council instability and factional battles over appointments and procurement. Allegations of political interference in academic processes, including claims of degree fraud involving high-profile politicians, have further eroded trust between management, council and external stakeholders. Fort Hare sits at the intersection of criminal networks, political patronage and weak governance boundaries, making it a national fl