Student representatives from universities and TVET colleges across KwaZulu-Natal engaged with Minister of Higher Education and Training, the Honourable Buti Manamela during a Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) regional oversight visit hosted by Durban University of Technology (DUT) at the ML Sultan Campus on Monday, 7 September 2026.
The engagement provided student leaders with an opportunity to raise matters affecting students at their respective institutions and to share their experiences directly with the Minister. Discussions included student funding, exemptions, accommodation, fee increases and historical student debt.
DUT SRC President Sihle Nkosi.
For DUT Student Representative Council (SRC) President Sihle Nkosi, the engagement provided an opportunity to raise matters affecting DUT students while also gaining insight into challenges experienced by students across the province.
“The issues I was able to raise on behalf of DUT students are inadequate student accommodation, fee increments and the withholding of certificates or qualifications due to historical debts. We were also able to give compliments on the improvement in how student representatives are given an opportunity to engage with the DHET,” said Nkosi.
University of Zululand SRC Deputy President Awande Mkhize said the engagement highlighted similarities in the challenges experienced by students across different institutions.
“It was a very important engagement, mainly because after this engagement it became very clear that some of the issues that we have as an institution (UniZulu) are not only our issues but are generic to each and every other institution. This engagement at DUT helps us in order to come up with solutions to problems that we are facing as students,” said Mkhize.
Mangosuthu University of Technology SRC Secretary General Minenhle Luthuli said the engagement provided an important opportunity for student leaders to share issues affecting their institution directly with government.
“We were able to raise issues that are currently affecting students at our institution, and this engagement gave us a platform to engage directly with government, which we are happy with,” said Luthuli.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for student leaders from different institutions to hear about challenges experienced across the province and to participate in a broader conversation on the student experience within the higher education and public TVET college sectors.
Nkosi said the DUT SRC would continue engaging with students and encouraged students to raise matters affecting them through the appropriate student leadership structures.
The DHET regional oversight visit provided a platform for student leaders across KwaZulu-Natal to engage directly with the Minister and share their experiences on matters affecting students and their respective institutions.
Pictured: Minister of Higher Education and Training, the Honourable Buti Manamela during his engagement with DUT student leaders.
Photographer: Sifundo Thwala
Sompisi Ntuli
