Cape town: 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. Briefing the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Manamela indicated that disputes involving the principal, the council chairperson, and two deputy principals have destabilised the college, negatively impacting staff morale, student welfare, and the institution’s reputation.
According to South African Government News Agency, while the college has shown strong performance in areas such as unqualified audits, improved student certification rates, and strong industry partnerships, the governance environment has become unsustainable. The intervention is enacted under Section 46 of the Continuing Education and Training Act, allowing the Minister to intervene when a public college is mismanaged or unable to function effectively.
The stabilisation team, to be led by a respected retired judge or senior advocate and supported by experts in labour relations and higher education governance, has a clear mandate. This includes conducting a fact-finding process into governance and leadership disputes, mediating between the Principal, Council, and Deputy Principals, and recommending corrective steps to the Minister. These recommendations could include possible sanctions, redeployments, or reforms to strengthen governance.
The team is set to begin its work within seven days and is expected to complete its tasks within 45 days. Manamela emphasized that the intervention aims to restore stability, protect the institution, and ensure that students are not adversely affected by leadership conflicts. Pending the team’s recommendations, all new disciplinary processes involving the principal, council chairperson, and deputy principals will be suspended to prevent further escalation.
The Minister is expected to report back to the portfolio committee within two months on the progress and outcomes of the intervention. Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie welcomed the department’s decisive action, criticizing the principal’s perceived ownership of the institution and expressing hope that the Minister will stay firm in his decision, reporting back within the promised timeframe.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Department of Higher Education and Training, Dr. Nkosinathi Sishi, clarified that the principal is facing 21 charges, contrary to the 300 alleged. Sishi noted that efforts at consequence management have been hindered by the principal’s frequent unavailability to respond when required. The committee reiterated the need for urgent steps to restore stability, good governance, and accountability, emphasizing that ongoing instability cannot compromise the academic success of students at the College of Cape Town.