Survey paints a grim picture for black females
The report of the ministerial task team on the recruitment, retention and progression of black South African academics has found that the population group and gender profiles of permanent instructional research staff at universities still demonstrate apartheid-era patterns.
Minister of Higher Education and Training Blade Nzimande appointed the task team in September 2017 with a mandate to investigate the blockages that prevent effective recruitment, retention and progression of South African black academics at universities in the country. Academics David Mosoma, Bulumko Msengana, Thandi Mgwebi, Sarah Mosoetsa and Ahmed Bawa made up the task team.
Their report has highlighted the plight of black academics.
“Black academics are in the majority in lower-level posts such as junior lecturer and lecturer, while white academics are in the majority in senior posts such as senior lecturer and professor. Male staff are dominant in senior posts and female staff are dominant in junior posts. Academic leadership at universities is still dominated by white and male academics,” reads the report.
However, the situation is grimmer for black female academics, whom the report found bore the brunt of exclusion and marginalisation in the higher education sector, particularly at historically advantaged universities and especially at previously Afrikaans institutions.
The report recommended that universities should ensure greater numbers of black South African master’s and doctoral graduates, specifically African female doctoral graduates.
“I look forward to receiving proposals for action. It is my intention that, after a period of two months during which the sector must propose concrete action on the recommendations, I will submit the report, its recommendations and the actions to cabinet for its consideration and approval,” Nzimande said.