Patriotic Alliance MP Ashley Sauls has demanded urgent clarity from the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) over allegations that South African universities are favoring foreign nationals over local candidates in academic hiring practices.
During a pointed exchange in Parliament, Sauls directed his questions to Dr Marcia Socikwa, Deputy Director-General at DHET, urging the department to account for what he described as “growing concerns of preferential treatment” in the appointment of foreign nationals to key academic and administrative positions. He warned that the pattern, if left unchecked, could erode opportunities for qualified South Africans and fuel resentment in a strained job market.
“How is it that in our own institutions, our own people are being overlooked?” Sauls asked. “We are not xenophobic—we are pro-South African employment.”
Dr Socikwa acknowledged the sensitivity of the issue and affirmed that DHET is committed to ensuring fair, merit-based hiring practices across all institutions. She noted that universities enjoy a degree of autonomy in staffing decisions but emphasized that these decisions must align with national transformation and employment equity goals.
Sauls, however, pressed for greater accountability, calling for an audit of university employment records and a transparent report on the ratio of local versus foreign hires in recent years.
The exchange has reignited debate over employment equity in South Africa’s higher education sector, with growing calls for the DHET to balance academic excellence with national employment priorities. As public scrutiny intensifies, universities may soon face tougher questions about who gets hired—and why.
