Zimbabweans top the list of foreign academics in SA, and not everyone is happy about it
South Africans are engaged in a heated online debate over the employment of foreign academics at their country’s public universities after recent figures presented to Parliament revealed more than 7 000 foreign nationals were employed in higher education institutions by 2025, with Zimbabweans accounting for the largest share.
The statistics, shared with the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, showed Zimbabwean nationals make up 27 percent of foreign academics employed at South African universities, followed by Nigerians at 14 percent.
The figures have reignited discussions around employment, skills shortages, transformation and the role of foreign professionals in South Africa’s higher education sector.
The debate comes against a backdrop of growing anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa, where foreign nationals have increasingly become targets of criticism over unemployment, public service delivery and economic challenges.
According to the records submitted to their Parliament, South Africa’s public universities employed more than 7 000 foreign academics in 2025.
The data further indicates that the University of Johannesburg recorded the highest number of foreign-employed academics, with more than 1 400 individuals listed.
Following publication of the figures, social media platforms were flooded with reactions from South Africans questioning whether universities were doing enough to prioritise local graduates.
“Universities must end their contracts and absorb South Africans…”, one user wrote while another argued: “South Africans should be prioritised.
Many commentators pointed to South Africa’s high unemployment rate among graduates, saying local citizens should be given preference for academic positions.
“Have you seen the number of South Africans that are graduating every year and are not even employed? Some are sitting at home with their qualifications with no plan B,” said one.
Others demanded greater transparency from universities regarding the recruitment of foreign academics.
“This will exclude the administration staff, they should include administration staff. Chancellors must show the process followed to verify if there are no South Africans qualified where foreign nationals are employed. Also provide plans submitted for the skills transfer process,” another said.
However, not everyone agreed the presence of foreign academics was problematic.
Among those defending the recruitment of foreign scholars was Mmusi Maimane, leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA) and a Member of South Africa’s National Assembly.
Responding to criticism, Maimane cited the same parliamentary data and questioned calls for the complete exclusion of foreign nationals.
“Data presented to Parliament indicated that of the full-time staff nationally 3,022 were foreign nationals which is 4.61 percent of the full-time staff. Are we now saying we want zero percent foreigners?” he wrote.
Overall the number was 7.7 percent of university staff are foreign nationals, these are people who are vetted, given jobs which were previously advertised and could not be filled locally and have the relevant visas. What is the problem?”
Supporters of foreign academic recruitment argued that universities compete globally for talent and research excellence, making international recruitment a common practice worldwide.
“Majority of foreign nationals participate in the teaching or research areas of academic institutions according to the above charts. Research output is the ‘holy grail’ of academic institutions as it partly plays a role in earnings from government,” one user observed.
Another suggested there could be a link between academic excellence and international recruitment.
“Isn’t it interesting that universities with the highest number of immigrant academic staff also happen to be the top universities? Maybe because they can afford the best from abroad.”
Others argued that appointments should be based on qualifications and merit rather than nationality.
“There’s absolutely no problem when people are employed on merit rather than ethnic privilege. As much as we employ foreign nationals in South Africa, other countries also employ foreign nationals in the same fields,” another commenter said.
Nevertheless critics remained unconvinced, insisting that local South African graduates should take precedence.
“The reason I said there are many South Africans that are qualified to work in those institutions is a fact. Every year our brothers and sisters graduate and are sitting at home with no jobs. South Africans should be prioritised over foreigners. It’s not a matter of qualification but more of a corruption issue,” one user responded.
The discussion also revived debate over South Africa’s educational attainment levels and whether South Africa currently produces enough highly qualified academics to fill all university positions.
Several users referenced findings from a Higher Education Department report published four years ago which found that only six percent of South Africans held university degrees.
An additional six percent possessed diplomas while 3.4 percent had Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) certificates.
Using those statistics, some commentators questioned whether the country had a sufficiently large pool of postgraduate degree holders to meet university staffing requirements.
“If only seven percent of adults have a Bachelor’s degree, now imagine at Masters or PhD. In fact, don’t even imagine it: it’s 0.2%. How do ‘patriots’ expect universities to meet their requirements of academic staff?” one user asked.
The debate highlights the complex tensions between national employment concerns and the increasingly global nature of higher education.
South African universities have long recruited academics from across the continent and beyond, particularly in specialised fields where skills shortages exist.
Foreign academics also contribute significantly to research output, postgraduate supervision and international collaboration.
However, the issue has become increasingly politicised amid rising anti-immigrant rhetoric.
Groups such as March and March have mobilised campaigns against undocumented migrants, arguing foreigners contribute to unemployment, crime and pressure public services.
Similar sentiments have fuelled periodic protests and calls for stricter immigration controls.
The growing hostility has had regional repercussions and of late, countries like Ghana and Nigeria have facilitated the return of some of their nationals following outbreaks of xenophobic violence and concerns about the safety of their citizens in South Africa.
Reached for comment, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Community in South Africa, Ngqabutho Nicholas Mabhena said such a debate was expected given the current mood in the neighboring country.
He, however, noted that deeper questions should be answered.
“The questions should be whether South Africa’s economic frustrations should be addressed through greater localisation of jobs or through maintaining an open, merit-based system that draws talent from across the continent,” he said, adding those employed in higher education institutions undergo proper recruitment processes and possess the necessary work permits and qualifications. Cite
[10/06, 9:02 pm] +263 71 842 4852: *Police verify identities of seven pupils killed in Gweru kombi fire tragedy*
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By Patrick Chitumba, Chronicle – OFFICER Commanding Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Midlands Province, Commissioner Patson Nyabadza, has called for patience as investigations continue over the commuter omnibus inferno that claimed the lives of seven pupils at Matongo Primary School in Senga suburb, Gweru on Wednesday.
The victims, comprising two boys and five girls, were among pupils travelling in the vehicle when the tragedy occurred. Police were still in the process of verifying the identities of the deceased at the time of writing.
Commissioner Nyabadza urged parents and guardians to remain calm and allow police to complete the identification process before releasing official information.
“Right now we are consolidating names and surnames of pupils who were in the commuter omnibus. We will have full facts by tomorrow morning,” he said.
He advised parents who had gathered at the school and surrounding areas seeking information about their children to return home and report to Senga Police Station on Thursday morning, where police would provide verified details.
Contrary to earlier reports, Commissioner Nyabadza said no child had been taken to hospital following the incident.
The driver of the commuter omnibus and his conductor, however, sustained injuries and were admitted to hospital for treatment.
According to reports, when the kombi left the school it had 21 pupils, mostly those doing Early Childhood Development.
It reportedly caught fire near Senga Shopping Centre, with members of the public rushing to the aid of the pupils, serve for the seven who unfortunately succumbed to the burns.
Police and other Government officials were at the scene throughout the day as investigations into the circumstances surrounding the fire continued.
Earlier reports indicated that the vehicle caught fire shortly after pupils had boarded it near Matongo Primary School.
Authorities are expected to release a comprehensive report once all the victims have been positively identified and their families formally notified.
More details are expected to emerge as investigations continue. Chronicle
[10/06, 9:02 pm] +263 71 842 4852: *3 neighbourhood watch committee members in court for assaulting a man to death*
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By Danisa Masuku, Chronicle – THREE neighbourhood watch committee members, accused of fatally assaulting a man they caught dragging a visually impaired woman, have appeared in court.
Dickson Zondo (52), Manqoba Masuku (53), and Johannes Dube (58), all from Gulalikabili in Tsholotsho District, Matabeleland North Province, appeared before Tsholotsho resident magistrate Mr Maxwell Ncube facing murder charges.
They were not asked to plead and only spoke to confirm the allegations levelled against them. They were advised of their legal right to apply for bail at the Bulawayo High Court and to seek the services of a lawyer.
The trio was remanded in custody until 15 June.
Prosecuting, Ms Nobuhle Mguni told the court that last month on 30 May at around 9PM, the accused persons and other villagers heard their visually impaired neighbour, Sithabile Ncube (58), screaming at her homestead.
“Within a few minutes, Ncube’s son arrived at one of the villagers’ homes and informed them that a villager named Philani Tshuma, who was armed with a knife and a shovel, wanted to kill his mother.
“The accused persons rushed to Ncube’s homestead, where upon arrival they found Tshuma dragging Ncube, having torn her skirt and underwear. Tshuma, who was armed, became violent towards them and attempted to strike the accused persons with the shovel as he resisted arrest,” said Mguni.
The court heard that the accused persons took turns to assault Tshuma. They eventually managed to apprehend and handcuff him. However, Tshuma escaped and ran away.
The accused persons tracked his footprints and found him lying on the grass beside a road leading to Gulalikabili Business Centre. Observing that his condition had deteriorated, they took him to the business centre, where they organised transport to ferry him to Tsholotsho District Hospital.
However, he died on the way to the hospital. Chronicle
[10/06, 9:02 pm] +263 71 842 4852: *More than 400 foreign companies apply to continue operating in reserved sectors*
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By Nyore Madzianike, Herald – MORE than 400 foreign companies operating in reserved economic sectors have applied for permission to continue operating following the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025 in December last year.
The statutory instrument provides for the reservation of certain economic sectors for Zimbabwean citizens in 21 low-capital sectors where entrepreneurs can easily establish businesses.
Appearing before the joint Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Industry and Commerce and Thematic Committee on Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu said the ministry had received 432 applications from foreign-owned businesses seeking to continue operating in the 21 reserved sectors.
“Following the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025 in December 2025, the Ministry received a total of 432 applications from foreign-owned businesses seeking to continue operations in 21 of the Reserved Sectors. Over 280 companies have since been approved,” he said.
Minister Ndhlovu said the most foreign-dominated sectors include wholesale and retail trade, haulage and logistics, and brick moulding.
He said the ministry would soon turn its attention to the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.
“Currently, the ministry is conducting a national Reserved Sector Compliance Awareness exercise to reinforce adherence to Statutory Instrument 215 of 2025,” he said.
“The programme is designed to promote awareness of reserved sector regulations, encourage compliance among business operators, and strengthen the participation of Zimbabwean citizens in the 21 designated economic sectors.
“The exercise allows engagement with all stakeholders, assessing compliance levels, and providing guidance to both foreign nationals and local citizens to ensure transparency, uniform understanding of statutory requirements, and the avoidance of misinformation, misinterpretation, or conflict among sector players in the implementation of the reserved sector regulations.”
By restricting foreign participation, the Government seeks to protect low-capital investment sectors from external competition and ensure that profits remain within Zimbabwean communities.
The policy protects local citizens from foreign competition, particularly in sectors with low barriers to entry or those that are not highly capital-intensive.
“Reserving sectors is not unique to Zimbabwe, but a common practice across the world,” said Minister Ndhlovu.
“From the research conducted by the ministry, it was noted that foreign nationals continue to dominate certain reserved sectors, particularly in sectors such as borehole drilling, haulage and logistics, and shipping and forwarding and lately artisanal small-scale mining.
“This dominance is often facilitated through fronting, capital advantages, and advanced technology that local businesses struggle to match.
“In some instances, foreign-owned firms undercut prices, evade taxes, and exploit loopholes in enforcement mechanisms, thereby eroding the competitiveness of indigenous businesses.” Herald
