Higher Education South Africa

Higher Education South Africa (HESA) was formed on 9 May 2005, as the successor to the two statutory representative organisations in South Africa for universities and technikons (now universities of technology), the South African Universities Vice-Chancellors Association (SAUVCA) and the Committee of Technikon Principals (CTP). The launch of HESA was in part driven by the restructuring of the higher education sector, which resulted in the establishment of new institutional types, but also by the need for a strong, unified body of leadership.

HESA represents all 23 public universities and universities of technology in South Africa and is a section 21 company.

Its web site is at http://www.hesa.org.za

The former organisations

SAUVCA was established as a statutory body for the 21 public universities in South Africa by the Universities Act (Act 61 of 1955). As a statutory body, it made recommendations to the Minister and Director-General of Education on matters referred to it or alternatively on any other issues, which it deemed important for universities.

The CTP was a national higher education association established in 1967 in terms of the Advanced Technical Education Act (No. 40 of 1967). It comprised the rectors, principals and Vice-Chancellors of technikons in South Africa.

The members of HESA

There is a comprehensive list describing these and also a useful document on the mergers.