Government sticks to race-based targets for funding in Higher Education; minorities must fend for themselves 

9 October 2019

The FF Plus laments the standpoint of the deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Mr Buti Manamela, that race-targeted funding for students must still be pursued even though the targets have already been met.

During yesterday's session of the parliamentary Portfolio Committee for Higher Education, it was confirmed that the National Research Foundation is aiming for the following targets: 80% of all the postgraduate students who are awarded funding must be black and 55% of them must be female.

On honours level, 90,7% of the students who received funding in 2018/19 were black and 59,2% were female. On master’s degree level, the figures were 79,3% and 57,7% respectively; and on doctoral level 75,0% and 51,8%.

These figures indicate that three of the targets for funding have already been surpassed and the other three have nearly been met.

This raised a question and the FF Plus wanted to know whether the designated groups will keep enjoying preference seeing as that could bring about new imbalances.

Deputy Minister Manamela's response to the question was: "We meet targets, but not actual demand."

Thus, he confirmed that there will be no adjustments made to the targets related to the designated groups.

The FF Plus considers this to be a clear sign that the ANC government has no intention of doing away with race-based targets, not now, not ever. This also re-emphasises the absolute necessity for Afrikaners and other minorities to see to their own training and future.

Issued by Wynand Boshoff, FF Plus MP and chief spokesperson: Higher Education, 9 October 2019