In the media

The South African government has identified 8,854 high-risk cases in its effort to eliminate ghost work in the public sector. In its process to verify all its employees, the highlighted cases were identified to show payment irregularities that need to be clarified in an outstanding audit. As part of the efforts to address this issue, the Education Labour Relations Council is undertaking physical verification of teachers and learners in order to identify possible ghost teachers and ensure spending efficiency.

The podcast highlights widespread corruption in South Africa’s education system, where the Education Labor Relations Council (ELRC) has launched an investigation into ghost teachers and the sale of teaching posts. Flawed hiring practices—especially the failure to advertise many entry-level positions—have enabled bribery and manipulation by principals and officials. This erodes trust, prevents qualified graduates from securing jobs, and wastes public resources. The ELRC, together with unions and the Department of Education, is developing measures to strengthen transparency and accountability.

The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Finance Minister has started a province-wide check to remove ghost workers from the Education Department. Nonexistent or former employees, including teachers who resigned, were dismissed, or died, are still receiving pay. This problem may be costing the department about 1 billion rand (approx. 57.31 million USD) every year, calling for urgent action.

South Africa’s Academy of Science has released a revised 2025 Code of Best Practice in Scholarly Journal Publishing, addressing AI misuse, peer-review ethics, open access, data transparency, and diversity. The code strengthens editorial independence, accountability, and integrity, aiming to curb predatory publishing, plagiarism, and unethical authorship. Stakeholders describe it as a blueprint for credibility and a safeguard for research trust.

Global research retractions surpassed 10,000 in 2023, with Ethiopia showing an alarming 12% + rate. This challenges research integrity and public trust. Issues include misconduct, weak oversight, and publication pressure. Strengthening ethical standards, implementing transparent review processes, establishing national monitoring bodies, and prioritizing research quality over quantity are crucial for a credible scientific environment.

The Southern African Development Community encourages higher education institutions to strengthen research ethics. An online seminar hosted by the Southern African Regional Universities Association (SARUA) gathered African academics to discuss vital research ethical frameworks, emphasizing review processes to protect participants and uphold research integrity.

The Council on Higher Education (CHE) has released guidelines for public and private universities on awarding honorary doctorates and professorships. This move addresses concerns about the misuse and potential abuse of honorary titles, which can lead to public distrust and exploitation. CHE emphasizes the importance of rigorous background checks and thorough evaluation of recipients' track records. It also advocates for revoking honorary degrees from individuals found guilty of criminal or unethical conduct.

A former top official at South Africa's Passenger Rail Agency (PRASA), was sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud and forgery. The official who resigned before his 2015 arrest, was convicted of faking engineering qualifications and a job offer, which led PRASA to nearly double his salary. He was sentenced for three counts of fraud, including a deal that resulted in the purchase of unusable locomotives.

The Minister of Higher Education commissioned a report into the affairs of Unisa, Africa's biggest open distance learning institution. There have been claims of maladministration, as well as tender irregularities, allegedly involving the University's Vice Chancellor and principal. The report found that Unisa has been plagued by governance issues since 2016. It included the flouting of procurement processes, irregular appointment of staff members, as well as huge salary increases.

South Africa’s Minister of Higher Education revealed concerns over rampant corruption and governance issues in universities. He hinted at potential future legal changes to bolster the system's efficiency, highlighting challenges like inexperienced governance council members and the normalization of corruption in university supply chains. While specific legislative amendments were not disclosed, the focus could include reviewing university autonomy. The department aims to establish an ombudsman and a dedicated branch to address governance problems.