Minister for the Higher Education department, Blade Nzimande, held a media briefing on Tuesday afternoon on the state of readiness for the 2024 academic year, reaction to the 2023 matric results and NSFAS related issues.
Matric results were released on 19 January with a 82.9% matric pass rate achieved, the highest in South African history. Majority of these matriculants will be entering into higher education institutions this year.
Nzimande revealed that universities in South Africa confirmed that they have all completed the 2023 academic year as planned, in 2023.
Registration for returning students commenced on 2 January and will end in mid-February. 2024 registration for first time entering new students commenced on 15 Jan and will be open until 15 February.
"We have activated an operations room and observatory to ensure timeous reporting and discussions of challenges experienced during the registration period," said Nzimande.
We have developed a monitoring tool to assess registration, readiness for teaching and learning, student academic support, management and stakeholder relations, plans for funding new and returning students and the status of institutional finances and challenges.
270 000 total university applications received for 2024 and 67 929 new enrollments will be in scarce skills. The Minister gave a breakdown of this:
- Engineering: 18 541
- Life and Physical Sciences: 16 415
- Animal Sciences: 614
- Veterinary Sciences: 206
- Human Health: 9 455
- Teacher Education: 22 698
2024 University Late Applications
Nzimande revealed that due to the late release of matric results, universities have made late application period available. These universities include:
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Durban University of Technology
- Mangosuthu University of Technology
- Rhodes University
- Tshwane University of Technology
- University of Fort Hare
- University of Zululand
- Walter Sisulu University
Central Applications Clearing House (CACH)
Through CACH, you can receive career advice, referral to other opportunities such as being referred to other universities, TVET college opportunities, artisan development opportunities and other possibilities. They'll also help you if you're not sure about where you should study or which career you want to follow.
The CACH service for 2024 will be open from 8am on 26 January 2024 until 31 March 2024.
You can access CACH in various ways once it opens for applications:
- Website: https://cach.cas.ac.za/
- Call centre Number: 0860 690 722
- Facebook: CACH_SA
CACH is FREE and aims to match applicants' National Senior Certificate exam results (which is received directly from the Department of Basic Education) and study preferences with places that need to be filled.
Institutions will access CACH on 30 January until 30 October.
