Public Protector and Human Rights Commission host a webinar focusing on protecting the right to higher education

Public Protector Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane, Deputy Public Protector Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka and the Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), Prof. Bongani Majola, will on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, host a webinar focusing on issues affecting students in institutions of higher learning across the country. 

The Public Protector South Africa (PPSA) and the SAHRC, which are established under Chapter 9 of the Constitution to strengthen constitutional democracy, have been engaging stakeholders in the higher learning fraternity since the beginning of the year in an effort to find long-lasting solutions to the funding challenges that engulf the sector at the start of every academic year.

This has seen Adv. Gcaleka and various representatives from the SAHRC visit a number of tertiary institutions in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West, Free State, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal to hold talks with the leadership and management of those institutions. They also met with the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation and the South African Union of Students (SAUS).

Observations made during this exercise and the related recommendations will be brought to the attention of government through relevant departments to see to it that, in the future, the annual delays in commencement of academic activities are avoided.  

To be held under the theme, “Protecting the Right to Higher Education”, the webinar will bring under one roof speakers and role players representing various stakeholders in the higher education community. Amongst those to be represented are the Universities Association of South Africa, SAUS and the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation.

The webinar, which forms part of the PPSA’s commemoration of the Youth Month, will be live-streamed on the institution’s YouTube channel. It will take place as follows:

Date                            : Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Time                           : 12:00 - 15:00

Platform                     : Zoom

Register here:

https://pprotect-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hTlkEdgNS7yL3RvcHvybjg