- Two years after the court stopped government plans to place Unisa under administration, the university continues to thrive.
- Unisa has improved its global rankings, maintained clean audits, and produced record numbers of graduates.
- Management states that challenging the minister was about protecting academic freedom, not defiance.
The University of South Africa (Unisa) reports that it is performing better than ever, two years after successfully resisting an attempt by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to put it under administration.
Monday, 27 October 2025, marked exactly two years since the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria blocked the minister’s decision. At that time, Unisa’s Council and management argued that the move was rushed and based on a flawed report.
Defending the university’s integrity
In its statement, Unisa explained that it went to court “not out of malice, but to ensure that its constitutional rights and those of affected officials are not infringed.” The university believed that administration “is not necessary and may only harm the university.”
Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, and her management team have insisted that the report justifying the takeover, titled Report of the Independent Assessor into the Affairs of the University of South Africa, was “fundamentally flawed” and that “its recommendations were totally misplaced.”
Unisa stated that its academic programmes and governance structures remain stable and its finances are healthy. “The university believed at the time, as it does now, that its governance and academic programs are not in jeopardy and remain intact,” the statement reads.
Results speak louder than criticism
The university’s achievements since 2021 support these claims. According to the latest data from Times Higher Education, Unisa improved its performance on the UN Sustainable Development Goals, rising from 65.3 in 2024 to 66.3 in 2025. It ranked in the top quartile worldwide for decent work and economic growth, quality education, and gender equality.
Unisa ranked seventh among the 13 South African universities included in the 2025 rankings. It also showed steady gains in its research environment and publication output. In the 2025 Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities, Unisa remains one of South Africa’s top eight institutions and is among the top 1,000 globally.
In South Africa, the university plays a vital role in developing the country’s skills base. “Unisa continues to play a vital role in producing quality graduates for the economy and the corporate market,” the statement noted. In 2025 alone, about 65 000 students graduated from Unisa, including 512 PhD and 922 Master’s graduates.
The university has also maintained unqualified audit opinions every year since 2018, which it says, “affirms that it continues to maintain the highest standard of financial prudence, transparency, and governance.”
Gratitude and moving forward
The university thanked those who supported it through its legal and administrative challenges. “The university community remains grateful to its various stakeholders, who stood by it in tough times and ensured that academic freedom is protected,” the statement said.
Unisa also recognised its leadership, highlighting the contributions of former council chairperson James Maboa, current chairperson Dr Dan Mosia, and LenkaBula. Their leadership, it stated, helped the institution stay focused on its mission to “remain a shining beacon of performance excellence.”
As it moves forward, Unisa emphasises that its focus remains on academic quality, good governance, and building a university that continues to make South Africa proud.
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