As the 2025 academic year resumes, the country’s universities received applications that were more than 30 times higher than they could accommodate. Topping the list was the University of Johannesburg (UJ), with 693 990 applications, which translates to a headcount of 358 992 applicants for approximately 10 900 undergraduate spaces. This is 33 times more than available spaces. Thabiso Tema spoke with Dr Marcia Socikwa, Director General responsible for the University Branch in the Department of Higher Education and Training.