FOREIGN NATIONALS IN SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITIES: NEW DATA REVEALS OVER 7,000 ACADEMICS EMPLOYED
A recent set of records shared with the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has revealed detailed figures on the employment of foreign nationals within South Africa’s public universities.
According to the documentation, by 2025 more than 7,000 foreign academics were employed across the country’s public higher education institutions. The data shows that Zimbabwean nationals make up the largest share at 27%, followed by Nigerian academics at 14%.
The University of Johannesburg reportedly recorded the highest number of foreign-employed academics, with over 1,400 individuals listed in the records.
The information is currently being reviewed and a more detailed breakdown is expected to be released in an upcoming report.
The disclosure has been attributed to authorisation from Chairperson Hon. Letsie, MP, through the Secretary of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, enabling access to the documents for public scrutiny and reporting purposes.
Further analysis is expected to shed more light on the distribution and roles of foreign academics across South Africa’s public university system.
South African X space is brutal. You need to have a clique to make it here. If you're not their chomi, they ignore your posts, they dont follow back, you are basically invisible. You are on your own.
Hundreds of Tunisians protest against illegal immigration outside the UNHCR building in Tunis following similar protests in South Africa and Libya.
They also called on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to leave the country.