UWC Executives Summoned To Parliament Over Governance Failures

Key UWC Governance Issues — Governance Failures

• The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education reviewed UWC after:

  • a May 2026 oversight visit

  • a June 2026 Oversight Report

  • a follow-up hearing on 13 November 2026

• The focus was on unresolved governance, administrative, financial, and student-welfare problems.

1. Student Accommodation and Compliance

• UWC placed 1,035+ students in the Unibell residence complex before it had a valid occupancy certificate.

• The building was found to be 71% non-compliant with DHET norms and standards.

• Problems included:

  • a liquor store at the residence entrance

  • mould

  • broken shower doors

  • disconnected Wi-Fi

  • non-working heaters

• Management failed to respond adequately to student complaints.

• This contributed to protests and campus shutdowns over accommodation.

2. Executive Accountability and Administration

• Committee criticised senior leadership for failing to fix basic maintenance and infrastructure problems.

• Specifically, the Executive Director for Finance and Services was criticised for unresolved failures despite 23 years in the post.

• The committee flagged a lack of consequence management for poor performance.

• Chairperson Walter Tebogo Letsie warned management against vague answers and said executives would be held personally accountable for student welfare.

3. Contracts and Leasing

• The committee found discrepancies and irregularities in:

  • transport leasing agreements

  • private accommodation leasing agreements

4. Financial Health and Infrastructure

• UWC’s overall finances were described as stable, with nearly R3.5 billion in annual income.

• But the committee noted pressure from:

  • rising student debt

  • liquidity constraints

  • reliance on council-controlled reserves

• Campus infrastructure was decaying, with maintenance backlogs affecting teaching, learning, and living conditions.

5. Human Resources and Transformation

• UWC did not provide a detailed breakdown of:

  • staff demographics

  • nationalities

  • qualifications

• The committee directed UWC to account for all foreign national employees and justify whether their roles are genuinely critical or scarce-skill positions.

6. Serious Fraud and Criminal Allegations

• Internal allegations include:

  • payroll fraud involving 85 ghost workers

  • compromised anti-fraud hotline protocols

• A student-led complaint to the Hawks reportedly implicates:

  • City of Cape Town Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews

  • UWC executive leadership, including Prof. Matete Madiba, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Development and Support

• Allegations involve:

  • kickbacks

  • irregular private residence leases

  • unlawful building approvals

Bottom line

• The committee identified systemic governance failures at UWC in accommodation compliance, executive accountability, contract management, infrastructure maintenance, staff transparency, and fraud oversight.