Media Advisory: Social Services Cluster Committee Chairpersons to Brief Media on Education Sector Oversight Priorities

Parliament, Friday, 24 October 2025 - Chairpersons of Parliament's Social Services Cluster oversight committees will, on Monday, 27 October, brief the media on various oversight priorities in the basic and higher education sectors.

The briefing, which is part of the 7^th Parliament's Committee Cluster Media Engagement Programme, will be held under the theme: "Ensuring Open Access and the Provision of Quality Social Services to the People."

The upcoming parliamentary media briefing comes at a crucial moment, amid mounting concerns across South Africa's education sector. From the tertiary level, tensions have escalated at institutions such as the University of Fort Hare, where an arson attack recently destroyed multiple campus buildings and highlighted "much bigger issues" around student-management conflict and institutional instability. At the school level, a wave of bullying and school-based violence continues to undermine learner safety and wellbeing. Between January and March this year, there were 548 reported cases of bullying in schools, prompting the Minister of Basic Education to unveil new initiatives aimed at combating the growing curve. Earlier studies show that 65 percent of Grade 9 learners experienced bullying monthly, and systemic shortcomings in oversight, resources and policy implementation allow incidents to go unreported or unremedied. Against this backdrop, the committees' focus on higher education infrastructure, access to funding, readiness for exams, and safety in schools is in pursuit of transparent accountability and intervention.

The Social Services Cluster includes the following government departments: Basic Education; Health; Higher Education; Human Settlements; Social Development; Sports, Arts and Culture; and Water and Sanitation. However, the briefing will be led by the following Chairpersons:

1. The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training, Mr Tebogo Letsie, will focus on:

• The universities of Fort Hare and Free State
• NSFAS and
• Infrastructure at universities.

1. The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education, Ms Joy Maimela, will focus on:

• Schools' readiness for exams
• Bullying in schools

1. The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Sciences and Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni, will focus on:

• Eastern Cape oversight
• Bullying in schools

1. The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, Ms Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, will focus on:

• Observations from Eastern Cape and Western Cape oversight visits
• Procurement of bread and centralisation of long-term contracts

DETAILS OF THE CLUSTER MEDIA BRIEFING:

Date: Monday, 27 October 2025
Time: 11:00
Venue: Good Hope Chamber, Parliament

Note to media:

Media wishing to attend the briefing should send their details (full name, name of media house, ID or passport number) to Mr Mlindi Mpindi at [email protected]. Members of the media will have an opportunity for one-on-one interviews with any of the Chairpersons and/or the Spokesperson of Parliament after the official briefing.

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ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Mr Moloto Mothapo, Spokesperson of Parliament