Deputy Minister Buti Manamela hosts a public Twitter Chat for students, 18 Jan

Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Buti Manamela will today Thursday 18 January 2018, hold a Twitter Chat as part of government’s efforts for continued public engagement and educating students on higher education matters.

The purpose is to provide students and prospective students an open and unmediated social media platform to sought clarity on any pertinent issues related to their studies including career development, registration and admissions as well as funding.

Following the Presidential announcement on 16 December 2017 that government would be phasing in “fully subsidised free higher education and training for poor and working class South Africans” over a five year period many questions remain about how this new policy will be implemented and achieved.

Subsequently DHET Minister Hlengiwe Mkhize supported by Deputy Minister Manamela and Director General Gwebs Qonde have held a series of consultation meetings with stakeholders in the sector including university vice-chancellors, college principals, student representatives and unions among others on the implementation roadmap of the new policy.

Following this development, both the Minister and Deputy Minister also undertook visits and walkabouts at some of the colleges and universities to get first hand experiences on the 2018 academic year currently unfolding at public higher institutions.

Yet, as the new academic year progresses, many questions remain as to the funding model for the new free higher education policy as well as registrations and admissions at our colleges and universities.

In order to inform the Nation and allay anxieties that may exist the Deputy Minister will hold an open and direct TwitterChat on Thursday 18 January between 2pm and 3pm. Deputy Minister will answer all questions posed to him directly under the hashtags #AskDMManamela and #Highereducation.

Deputy Minister Manamela will also respond to questions on Facebook at Buti Manamela.

Deputy Minister will also be personally tweeting and responding directly to enquiries emanating from his chats with students and the public on his personal Twitter handle:  @butimanamela.

For more information:
Matshepo Seedat
Tel: 012 312 5067
Cell: 082 679 9473
E-mail: Seedat.M@dhet.gov.za or Matshepo@gmail.com