Guest: Mlamuli Nkosingphile Hlatshwayo, Associate Professor at the Ali Mazrui Centre for Higher Education Studies, at UJ.              

Recent media reports have highlighted a troubling disparity in the salaries of South African university vice-chancellors, revealing figures that suggest a deepening crisis in higher education. According to a Council on Higher Education report, some vice-chancellors earned nearly R7.2 million in 2019, while others received around R3 million. This staggering pay scale contrasts sharply with the growing insecurity faced by the majority of university staff, who are employed on precarious, short-term contracts. The contrast between exorbitant executive compensation and the unstable conditions for lower-paid staff underscores a systemic issue in university financial management, calling for urgent reform and greater transparency.