South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, has appointed Dr Robert Nkuna as Administrator of the College of Cape Town following findings of serious governance and financial failures at the institution.
The appointment, made in terms of Section 46 of the Continuing Education and Training Act, takes immediate effect upon publication in the Government Gazette. It is time-bound for a period not exceeding two years or until a properly constituted council is established.
Nkuna will assume the governance responsibilities of the College Council and is mandated to stabilise the institution, safeguard students, protect teaching and learning processes, and restore lawful governance.
The intervention follows the Minister’s consideration of the final report of the Stabilisation and Governance Support Team (SGST), which was tasked with assessing the affairs of the college. After allowing the College Council to review the report and submit written representations, the Minister accepted the findings and recommendations.
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, the SGST report uncovered sustained governance failures, weak oversight mechanisms, compromised human resource practices, and risks to teaching and learning. It also identified serious financial and other forms of maladministration that undermined the institution’s governance structures.
The department described the move as corrective and restorative, aimed at stabilising governance and management, ensuring compliance with court orders and statutory requirements, implementing audit and oversight recommendations, and protecting student wellbeing.
The department will continue to monitor the implementation of the intervention as the stabilisation process unfolds.
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