4. On the Polemic of Private Higher Education in South Africa: Accentuating Criticality As a Public Good

The escalating anxiety surrounding public higher education in South Africa continues to be amplified by a rapidly expanding sector of private universities and colleges. Reasons and patterns for the privatisation of higher education are often supported and rationalised by a loss of faith in public institutions to deliver quality education. Not only are private institutions clear about their corporatist role, but they are equally emphatic about prioritising economic gains over meeting the needs of what remains a highly stratified society. Seemingly, the increasing privatisation of higher education adds to the complexity of the future of public higher education in South Africa. This article provides a two-fold interest: Firstly, whether the privatisation of university education can sustain reform concomitantly with the enhancement of alternatives to academic capitalism. Secondly, whether the envisaged complementarity between public and private higher education institutions can be extended towards fulfilling a pluralistic and sustainable public good.