South Africa’s Higher Education System Under Strain
By Thabo Mosia
South Africa’s higher education system faces a significant crisis following the announcement of the 2024 matric results. Despite a record 337,158 students qualifying for university admission, the country’s 26 public universities only have 202,000 spaces available for first-year students. This mismatch highlights the critical shortage of higher education capacity in the country and has sparked widespread debate on social media and among education experts.
The crisis underscores a broader challenge within South Africa’s educational infrastructure, which struggles to meet the increasing demand for university education, even as the matric pass rate continues to improve.
Matric Results: A Record Achievement
The 2024 matric pass rate stands at an impressive 87.3%, marking a steady improvement in the quality of education over the years. Of the 740,876 learners who wrote the exams, 644,562 passed, and 348,212 achieved a Bachelor’s pass, qualifying them for university admission.
While this is a commendable milestone, it also exacerbates the higher education access crisis. According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, only 15% of eligible students will secure university admission due to limited spaces. This leaves over 114,000 Bachelor’s pass students unable to pursue tertiary education at public universities.
University Admission Bottleneck
South Africa’s 26 public universities have reported being inundated with applications. Combined, these institutions received over 4.2 million applications for approximately 202,000 available spaces. The disparity between demand and capacity has created a highly competitive admissions process, leaving many students disappointed.
Applications by Institution: A Glimpse at the Numbers
• University of Johannesburg (UJ): 693,990 applications for 10,500 places.
• Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT): 518,309 applications for 9,235 places.
• North-West University (NWU): 390,000 applications for 12,937 places.
• Walter Sisulu University (WSU): 380,000 applications for 7,300 places.
• University of Limpopo (UL): 304,856 applications for 4,995 places.
The Bachelor of Education (B Ed) degree remains one of the most sought-after qualifications. UJ, for instance, received 118,629 applications for 772 B Ed places, while the University of Limpopo received 113,046 applications for only 600 spots.
Medicine Applications: A Case of Extreme Demand
Medicine remains a top choice for many matriculants. Stellenbosch University, Wits University, and Nelson Mandela University collectively received over 39,000 applications for medical programmes but could only accommodate 657 students.
• Wits University: 16,214 applications for 257 places.
• Stellenbosch University: 16,826 applications for 300 places.
• Nelson Mandela University: 6,082 applications for 100 places.
The Role of TVET Colleges
In response to the capacity crisis, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has urged students to consider technical and vocational education and training (TVET) colleges. South Africa’s 50 TVET colleges offer 502,954 places, providing a viable alternative for students who cannot secure university admission.
“Technical education equips students with hands-on skills that are in high demand in our economy,” said Minister Nkabane. She emphasised the importance of diversifying educational pathways to meet the country’s skills needs in fields like engineering, agriculture, and climate science.
However, TVET colleges continue to face challenges, including inadequate funding, outdated infrastructure, and a lack of public awareness about their programmes. Addressing these issues is critical to making TVET a more attractive option for South African students.
Infrastructure Constraints and Historical Challenges
One of the primary reasons for the crisis is the lack of significant expansion in South Africa’s higher education infrastructure since the end of apartheid. Despite increasing demand, no new public universities have been built in recent years to accommodate the growing number of matriculants.
By contrast, neighbouring Zimbabwe has built 15 universities, 12 teacher training colleges, and 12 polytechnics since gaining independence. This comparison has sparked criticism of South Africa’s approach to higher education development.
Impact on Students and Families
The shortage of university spaces has left thousands of students and their families in distress. Many have turned to private institutions, which often charge prohibitively high fees, or sought opportunities abroad.
For others, the inability to secure admission means postponing or abandoning their educational aspirations altogether. This has significant implications for social mobility and the country’s broader economic goals.
Government Response and Recommendations
The Department of Higher Education and Training has acknowledged the severity of the crisis and pledged to explore solutions. Minister Nkabane announced plans to increase investment in higher education infrastructure and improve the quality and accessibility of TVET programmes.
Education experts have called for a multi-pronged approach, including:
1. Expanding University Capacity: Building new universities and expanding existing ones to accommodate more students.
2. Strengthening TVET Colleges: Improving funding, infrastructure, and public awareness to make TVET a more viable option.
3. Enhancing Online Education: Leveraging technology to offer flexible, scalable learning solutions.
4. Public-Private Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between government and private institutions to increase capacity.

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