Universities South Africa (USAf), formerly known as Higher Education South Africa (HESA), is a membership organisation representing the 26 public universities in South Africa.
USAf) is a public entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) under the National Government of South Africa.
The primary mandate of Universities South Africa (USAf) is to support its 26 members in the achievement of their core functions of teaching and learning, research and community engagement, and to create an environment where universities can thrive and prosper, and contribute effectively to South Africa’s development.
USAf endorses a comprehensive and equitable national higher education system that is responsive to the challenges facing South Africa.
Through lobbying and advocacy, USAf promotes and facilitates an optimal environment conducive for universities to function effectively and efficiently. It promotes cohesive but diverse public universities in service of society, recognising the need for strong and effective universities.
Universities South Africa (USAf) is the mouthpiece of all public universities and ensures that the universities’ views are heard in public debates, hence adopting the tagline: The Voice of South African Universities. In that context, USAf is a thought leader influencing role players and providing commentary and advice on national legislation and policies.
Vision
The vision of Universities South Africa (USAf) is sustainable and responsive universities.
To achieve this vision, Universities South Africa (USAf) will work with and for universities, bringing together both local and international partners to collaborate and share resources, ideas, best practice, and policy options. USAf will identify opportunities to bolster our universities through building capacity.
Mission
The mission of Universities South Africa (USAf) is to Strengthen South African Universities through Advocacy, Building Capacity, and Advancing Collaboration with local and international partners and with society.
Strategic Objectives
The strategic objectives of Universities South Africa (USAf) are:
- Be responsive to the national context within which universities operate to ensure an effective response to emerging trends for the benefit of the universities, the post-school education and training (PSET) sector, and society more broadly.
- Improve the sustainability of the higher education sector, including financially, environmentally and in terms of staffing.
- Advance transformative universities.
- Advocate for universities through coordinating responses to common priorities and intervening to overcome challenges.
- Build a fit-for-purpose USAf through effective staffing, capacity development, financial sustainability, and good governance practices.
Values
At Universities South Africa (USAf), they subscribe to and anchor their behaviour in four values, namely: Respect, Integrity, Responsiveness and Professionalism.
- Respect: At USAf they believe in applying the same standards of justice and fairness, respect, responsiveness and professionalism to everyone. Everyone is afforded due courtesy, dignity and consideration, regardless of their age, class, ethnicity or country of origin, ability, gender, sexuality, position, race or religion.
- Integrity: At USAf they believe in maintaining the highest standards of honesty, dependability, accountability, and ethical and moral conduct at all times. They commit to doing what is morally and ethically right with consistency, in private or in the public domain.
- Responsiveness: At USAf they strive to respond expeditiously and most efficiently to their stakeholders’ needs, concerns, and expectations, as well as to the environment in which they operate. Recognising that every employee-stakeholder interaction represents a USAf experience, they will respond timeously and with empathy, especially to the matters over which they have control, giving the best of themselves in every stakeholder interaction.
- Professionalism: At USAf they undertake to discharge their responsibilities accountably, responsibly and to the highest standards of quality, reflective of their skills and competencies.
Members of Universities South Africa (USAf)
South Africa has 26 public universities, all part of Universities in South Africa, distributed across nine provinces. Each province has at least one university, with Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape establishing their own institutions in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Most universities are found in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Western Cape, which house major metropolitan areas.
To explore detailed information about any university, simply click on the university name in the table below.
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
- Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT)
- Durban University of Technology (DUT)
- Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
- Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
- North-West University (NWU)
- Rhodes University (RU)
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU)
- Sol Plaatje University (SPU)
- Stellenbosch University (SU)
- Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)
- University of Cape Town (UCT)
- University of Fort Hare (UFH)
- University of Johannesburg (UJ)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
- University of Limpopo (UL)
- University of Mpumalanga (UMP)
- University of Pretoria (UP)
- University of South Africa (UNISA)
- University of the Free State (UFS)
- University of the Western Cape (UWC)
- University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
- University of Venda (UNIVEN)
- University of Zululand (UNIZULU)
- Vaal University of Technology (VUT)
- Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
Overseeing Department/Entity
Office Bearers/Management
Chairperson
- Prof Francis Petersen (University of Pretoria)
Deputy Chairperson
- Prof Rushiella Songca (Walter Sisulu University)
Board Members
- Prof Robert Balfour
- Prof Sakhela Buhlungu
- Prof Andrew Crouch
- Prof Pamela Dube
- Prof Hester C Klopper
- Prof Puleng LenkaBula
- Prof Sizwe Mabizela
- Prof Tinyiko Maluleke
- Prof Tandi Matsha-Erasmus
- Prof Thoko Mayekiso
- Prof Nehemia Mahlo Mokgalong
- Prof Mosa Moshabele
- Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi
- Prof Thandwa Mthembu
- Prof Xoliswa Mtose
- Prof Sibongile Muthwa
- Prof Stephen Khehla Ndlovu
- Prof Chris Nhlapo
- Prof Bernard Nthambeleni
- Prof Francis Petersen
- Prof Nana Poku
- Prof Deresh Ramjugernath
- Prof Nokuthula N Sibiya
- Prof Rushiella Songca
- Prof Bismark Tyobeka
- Prof Zeblon Vilakazi
Chief Executive Officer
- Dr Phethiwe Matutu
Chief Financial Officer
- Mr Emert Nkhatu
Senior Management
- Prof Robert Balfour (Chairperson: Human Resources and Remuneration Committee)
- Mr Saleem Kharwa (Chairperson: Audit and Risk Committee)
- Prof Sizwe Mabizela (Chairperson: Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Committee)
- Prof Chris Nhlapo (Chairperson: Finance and Investment Committee)
- Prof Rushiella Songca (Chairperson: Legal Advisory Committee)
Communications Officers
- Ms ‘Mateboho Green (Manager)
Contact Details
The contact details of Universities South Africa (USAf) are listed in the table below.
| Physical Address: | 1st Floor, Blocks E & D, Hadefields Office Park, 1267 Pretorius Street, Hatfield, Pretoria, Gauteng |
| Postal Address: | P.O. Box 27392, Sunnyside, Pretoria, 0132 |
| Telephone: | – 012 030 0670 – 086 680 5727 |
| Email: | info@usaf.ac.za |
| Website: | usaf.ac.za |
