Bloemfontein, South Africa — The Central University of Technology (CUT) is at the center of a growing storm as allegations surface that the institution favors foreign nationals over South African citizens in its hiring practices.
The controversy erupted after the African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State issued a sharp critique of the university’s staffing policies, revealing that 15% of CUT’s workforce comprises foreign nationals. This figure, according to the ANC, is cause for concern in a country grappling with youth unemployment and a surplus of qualified local graduates.
“This situation is unacceptable,” an ANC spokesperson stated. “We are calling for a comprehensive audit and urgent review of CUT’s recruitment practices. South African graduates deserve priority, especially in publicly funded institutions.”
The debate intensified when Patriotic Alliance (PA) Member of Parliament Ashley Sauls directly accused CUT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Pamela Dube, of intentionally favoring foreign applicants over local talent. Sauls urged the Department of Higher Education to intervene, describing the matter as “a betrayal of South Africa’s unemployed youth.”
While CUT has yet to formally respond to the accusations, the university is expected to come under increasing pressure to explain its hiring decisions and demonstrate compliance with employment equity laws.
As public and political scrutiny mounts, the case raises larger questions about the balance between international academic collaboration and the imperative to address local employment challenges.
