Deputy Minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Dr Mimmy Gondwe returned to her alma mater recently to engage in high-level discussions about the higher education sector at the 2025 Registrars' Imbizo at Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU).
Gondwe obtained both her Master's and Doctorate of Law (in Mercantile Law) from SU. During her time at SU, she won scholarships and grants in recognition of her academic achievements, including the Fulbright Scholarship, Andrew Mellon Foundation Scholarship, Baden Württemberg Scholarship and the National Research Foundation Thuthuka Research Grant.
Opening the two-day imbizo, attended by registrars and administrators from universities across the country, as well as representatives from Universities South Africa and the South African Qualifications Authority, Gondwe said: “We reflect on the strides we have made and the challenges we continue to face in the collective future we are building together in the higher education sector.
She described the imbizo as an opportunity to acknowledge the crucial role registrars play in shaping the academic and administrative landscape of universities. “You are the custodians of institutional integrity, stewards of compliance and champions of student-centred delivery."
Gondwe addressed concerns about the late release of matric results, saying the Department was “actively engaging" with the Department of Basic Education to ease bottlenecks and minimise disruptions to university admissions ahead of the 2026 academic year. “We remain committed to ensuring that the integrity of the university admission process is not compromised in any way." She also noted National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) funding challenges, saying that work was being done to establish a sustainable funding model for the bursary and loan scheme.
Gondwe placed campus safety and security firmly on the higher education agenda by highlighting the DHET's call for “council-approved safety and security policies" to be submitted by all universities. These policies should be more than administrative documents. They should reflect a “commitment to protect lives, to ensure peace of mind and to foster an environment where learning and growth can take place without fear".
Meanwhile, Gondwe said the DHET is finalising a Memorandum of Understanding with the South African Police Service focused on the prevention and investigation of crime on and around campuses. “The aim is to foster proactive collaboration between campus protection services and the country's law enforcement agencies." Staff and student security on campuses is a “non-negotiable" and a “prerequisite to the effective functioning of our universities", she emphasised.
SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Deresh Ramjugernath highlighted the critical role registrars play in an evolving higher education sector. “Registrars and academic administrators are the custodians of governance, the stewards of institutional integrity, and the enablers of academic excellence. Operational excellence is not an afterthought; it is a prerequisite for student success, institutional credibility and public trust."
He added: “To thrive, not just survive, in an ever-changing landscape, we must strengthen our people, streamline our processes, and cultivate a culture that is both excellent and humanising. This is how we build institutions that serve our students, our country and our continent with distinction."
Caption:
Carol Crossley, Registrar at WITS and Chair: USAf Registrars' Forum, Deputy Minister of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Dr Mimmy Gondwe, Dr Ronel Retief, SU Registrar and Vice Chair: USAf Registrars' Forum and Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor at the 2025 Registrars' Imbizo held recently in Stellenbosch. ?
Photo: Ignus Dreyer
