13 August 2025

The African National Congress (ANC) Study Group on Higher Education and Training welcomes the strategic vision for South Africa’s Post-School Education and Training (PSET) sector, as presented by Minister Buti Manamela. The roadmap outlined by Minister Manamela reflects the ANC’s enduring commitment to an accessible, inclusive, developmental, and future-orientated higher education system that empowers the youth and advances the goals of social justice, redress, and economic transformation.

We applaud the Minister’s focus on building a unified and coherent PSET system, which is crucial to eliminating institutional fragmentation and unlocking opportunities for students across the nation. The prioritisation of expanded access, especially for underserved rural and township communities, demonstrates a clear intent to close the historical equity gap.

The Minister’s time-bound programmes aimed at youth “Not in Employment, Education or Training” (NEET), in-skill alignment, and the Career Choices (Khetha) initiative reflect both urgency and substance in addressing our country’s structural challenges. These measures, backed by multi-sectoral engagements will ensure that the PSET sector becomes central to produce employable graduates and drives inclusive economic growth.

We are encouraged by the prioritization of stabilizing the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), recognizing the scheme’s critical importance in enabling access to post-school education. This intervention is vital and long overdue and will go a long way in restoring public confidence and ensuring that students have stable financial support.

We further welcome the alignment of education and training with national economic priorities, particularly the green economy, public sector renewal, and innovation, as well as the Minister’s plan to strengthen institutional governance and accountability. The establishment of a national PSET database and curriculum pilots in emerging industries is a timely and necessary intervention to improve quality and responsiveness.

We are further pleased with the commitment to investing in the expansion of Community Education and Training (CET) as a critical investment in broadening educational opportunities and empowering our communities. These speak directly to the ANC’s commitment to providing accessible lifelong learning opportunities. Equally, we recognise and welcome the Minister’s firm assurance to strengthening SETA oversight, ensuring each authority delivers qualitative and quantitative value.

The ANC Study Group is committed to collaborating with Minister Manamela, the Ministry, and all stakeholders to ensure that the system delivers real value not only for students but also for the nation. The ANC remains committed to building a sector that is innovative, that develops and empowers, leaving no one behind.

Issued by the Whip of the ANC Study Group on Basic Education, Cde Tshepo Louw (MP)

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