This declaration was made during a two-day stakeholder engagement meeting held to discuss the state of readiness for post-school education and training.

Public universities across the country have received an overwhelming number of applications, totalling more than 4.7 million, while only 206 324 spaces are available. This significant demand highlights the challenges faced by the higher education sector in accommodating all prospective students.

Director General Nkosinathi Sishi of the Department of Higher Education and Training expressed confidence in the system's preparedness for the new academic year.

"Overall, we feel that we have declared the readiness of the system to commence this year as smoothly as it can be. But we have also acknowledged that there are some challenges that are still there and they are specific. They are in the area of student accommodation but most importantly, there is a demand for expanded access because of the numbers that exited basic education this year," Sishi elaborated.

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--