NWU spokesperson Louis Jacobs says the visit was initiated by the committee and has therefore referred any queries to Parliament’s communication service.

The committee meanwhile says the visit will focus on transformation at the institution, among other things.

Chairperson Yvonne Phosa says it forms part of oversight visits to all 26 higher education institutions across the country, but adds those with challenges have been prioritised.

Phosa says the committee will also focus on the University’s technical and vocational education training component as South Africa is in desperate need of skilled workers.

Committee members are expected to meet with the NWU Council, varsity management, the Student Representative Council and other stakeholder’s at the NWU’s Potchefstroom campus.


Meanwhile the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education is also scheduled to conduct an oversight visit to Kuruman in the Northern Cape today. More than fifty schools were closed for at least three months due to violent protests in the area.

The embattled North West municipality of Madibeng is also scheduled for an oversight visit by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation. There have been severe water quality challenges in the area for some time now.