The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education is calling for a formal investigation into troubling allegations of racially biased marking at the University of Cape Town (UCT). This comes after a former head of department reportedly claimed that certain lecturers at the institution intentionally awarded higher marks to white students.
Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie described the allegations as deeply concerning, stressing that any form of discrimination in assessment practices undermines the integrity of the academic system and the principles of equality enshrined in the Constitution.
The committee is urging UCT and relevant oversight bodies to treat the matter with urgency, transparency, and accountability. If substantiated, the claims could trigger significant institutional reforms and a broader conversation about equity in South Africa’s higher education sector.
