“Shut Them Down” – Economist Says South Africa Has Too Many Universities
Renowned economist Dawie Roodt says it’s time to close most of South Africa’s public universities.
In a bold statement made during a radio interview with RSG, Roodt argued that the country’s education system is broken – and it’s not because of a lack of funding.
“We spend billions on education, yet we have one of the worst school systems in the world,” he said.
Billions Spent, Poor Results
According to the 2025 Budget Review by National Treasury, South Africa is spending R509 billion on education this year. That includes:
- R332 billion on basic education
- R55 billion on NSFAS
- R48 billion for university transfers
Yet, the World Economic Forum ranked South Africa last for maths and science in 2020. UNESCO found that 78% of Grade 4 learners can’t read for meaning.
Too Many Universities, Too Few Skills
South Africa has 26 public universities. Roodt says that’s far too many.
“Only 10% of South Africans should be at university,” he said. “We need electricians, nurses, coders – not just graduates.”
The Auditor-General’s reports show several public universities have poor financial management, delayed audits, and questionable governance.
Are Private Universities the Answer?
South Africa also has 126 registered private institutions, including:
Roodt says private universities are gaining ground but need help. They charge higher fees and don’t do enough academic research – partly because government funding goes only to public institutions.
Time for Vouchers and Competition?
Roodt has a solution:
- Give students education vouchers to choose where they want to study
- Let private and public universities compete for that funding
- Offer research grants to private universities too
“People will go where the quality is. Right now, many public institutions are underperforming,” Roodt said.
Let the Private Sector Step In
From healthcare to security, South Africa’s private sector already fills in where the state fails.
Education should follow suit.
“We already have strong private universities. Let’s support them and shut down those that don’t deliver,” Roodt concluded.
