Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela
Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has announced the establishment of a stabilisation team to address governance and management disputes at the College of Cape Town for TVET, aiming to resolve conflicts involving the principal, council chairperson, and deputy principals that have undermined staff morale, student welfare, and the institution’s reputation.
Background of the Governance Crisis at College of Cape Town
The College of Cape Town for TVET, a public institution serving thousands of students across eight campuses in the Western Cape, has been mired in internal conflicts that threaten its core functions. The disputes centre on allegations of mismanagement, leadership clashes, and governance failures, creating an environment described by Minister Buti Manamela as “untenable.” These issues have persisted for months, leading to low staff morale, operational disruptions, and concerns over student academic success. The principal, Mhangarai Muswaba, has faced scrutiny from staff, with complaints dating back to at least 2024, including a Labour Court case where employees accused him of failing to appoint lecturers, using restricted tenders, and other administrative lapses.
Staff members raised serious concerns in a letter to the Minister, highlighting what they perceived as autocratic leadership and a lack of accountability. The conflicts involve the principal, the council chairperson, and two deputy principals, with tensions escalating through mutual disciplinary actions and grievances. This has resulted in a toxic atmosphere, where decision-making is stalled, and essential services like student support and infrastructure maintenance suffer. Despite these challenges, the college has maintained strengths in areas like unqualified audits, rising student certification rates from 60% to 75% in recent years, and robust partnerships with industries for apprenticeships and skills training. However, the ongoing instability risks eroding these gains, prompting urgent intervention from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
The crisis reflects broader issues in South Africa’s TVET sector, where political interference, corruption, and nepotism have been reported in multiple institutions. A 2024 study revealed that many TVET colleges face governance breakdowns due to unqualified appointments and external pressures, leading to financial mismanagement and poor service delivery. At the College of Cape Town, these problems have manifested in delayed staff promotions, unresolved labour disputes, and a backlog in addressing student complaints, further straining resources in a sector already grappling with funding shortages and enrolment demands.
Announcement of the Stabilisation Team
Briefing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education on Wednesday, 10 September 2025, Manamela outlined the need for immediate action under Section 46 of the Continuing Education and Training Act, which allows the Minister to intervene in cases of mismanagement or inability to perform statutory functions. The stabilisation team, also referred to as a stabilisation and dispute resolution task team, will be chaired by a respected retired judge or senior advocate, with support from experts in labour relations and higher education governance. This independent body aims to restore order without bias, focusing on fact-finding, mediation, and recommendations.
The team’s mandate includes conducting a thorough fact-finding process into the governance and leadership disputes, mediating between the principal, council, and deputy principals, and proposing corrective measures to the Minister. These could involve sanctions, redeployments, or structural reforms to strengthen governance, such as revised appointment processes or enhanced oversight mechanisms. Manamela emphasised that the intervention is not about “taking sides” but about protecting the institution and ensuring students are not caught in the crossfire of leadership conflicts. The team will begin work within seven days and is expected to conclude within 45 days, with all new disciplinary processes involving the key parties suspended to avoid further escalation. The Minister committed to reporting back to the committee within two months on progress and outcomes.
This step follows previous attempts by the DHET to address the issues, including oversight visits and calls for consequence management, which have been hampered by the principal’s reported unavailability. The establishment of the team aligns with Manamela’s broader priorities for the post-school education sector, including stabilising governance in TVET colleges and ensuring accountability in taxpayer-funded institutions.
Principal’s Response and Pending Charges
Principal Mhangarai Muswaba has defended his position, claiming to be a victim of “staff sabotage” by employees resisting his efforts to transform the college. He attributes the challenges to internal resistance against changes aimed at improving efficiency and inclusivity, such as streamlining procurement and addressing historical inequalities in staff appointments. However, the DHET’s Director-General, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, clarified during the briefing that Muswaba faces 21 charges, not the exaggerated 300 alleged in some reports. These charges include misconduct related to governance, human resources, and procurement, stemming from staff grievances and audits.
Sishi noted that attempts at consequence management have been frustrated by Muswaba’s frequent unavailability to respond to queries or attend meetings. The principal’s leadership has been questioned in a May 2024 Labour Court ruling, where complaints highlighted issues like failing to fill lecturer positions, leading to overcrowded classes and compromised teaching quality. This has contributed to disruptions, including student protests over poor facilities and delayed results, further damaging the college’s reputation.
Parliamentary Reactions and Support
The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education welcomed the Minister’s decisiveness, with Chairperson Tebogo Letsie criticising the principal’s attitude, stating he regarded the institution as his own “until we called him to order.” Letsie emphasised that such mindsets have no place in publicly funded bodies, urging Manamela to remain firm and report back within two months. The committee reiterated that instability cannot compromise student success and called for urgent restoration of good governance and accountability.
MPs expressed alarm at persistent tensions among senior managers, which have led to weak governance and disruptions. The briefing followed an earlier session where the college was hauled before Parliament to explain the governance collapse, highlighting the need for external intervention to prevent further harm.
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