Again, the existence of the Truth Commission challenges every sector of society to examine very carefully what role it did play in the past. And it is a challenge to the academic community like to all others. The academic community needs to analyze the priorities of South African society carefully, and its ways of contributing to the building of civil society. It needs to envision how to equip people to be able to develop their full human potential, and finally how to meet the strategic needs of the country. Universities need to recruit the staff, which will provide the intellectual environment supportive of a transition towards democracy.
Academic community is in ferment.
The issue of transformation is a key one for the academia. Like all other segments of society, university life has been characterized by white domination. There is a huge problem around the issue of payment for tuition fees. Universities are running into financial crisis related to inability of Black students to pay, and more loan bursaries are desperately needed. The issue of access is a critical question in South Africa today.