The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) has firmly pushed back against viral social media claims alleging that up to 98% of its staff are foreign nationals. Dismissing the figures as outright fake news, the institution confirmed that international employees make up just 9% of its total workforce.
The response follows intense online commentary surrounding university hiring practices and local graduate employment across South Africa.
Also see: Wits tops Africa in university world rankings
Debunking social media claims
Speculation began circulating across platforms like X and Facebook, where users alleged that Wits was prioritising foreign academics over qualified local talent.
In response, Wits urged citizens to exercise caution and avoid amplifying unverified figures designed to create social tension, clarifying that foreign nationals account for just 9% of its workforce while emphasising that internationalisation works alongside, rather than against, the development of South African academic leadership.
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Minister @ButiManamela please explain these numbers to ordinary South Africans…@LetsieTebogo @AshleySauls_1st you need to call Buti to account for this mess.
Why is he defending Wits , when the numbers are clear on Foreign Academics v SA academics staff?
This is a public… https://t.co/LbayJCmZ0W pic.twitter.com/Vl9jO68CpB
— The Dottist😎 (@Mambesh24) August 31, 2026
Addressing the public directly, Wits urged citizens to exercise caution and avoid amplifying unverified figures designed to create social tension.
Balancing global excellence with local transformation
In addition to setting the record straight on its employment statistics, Wits addressed broader public concerns surrounding transformation, local graduate placement, and national academic development. The university emphasised that maintaining international recruitment standards does not come at the expense of nurturing South African talent.
Instead, attracting top global scholars actively enriches the local academic ecosystem by exposing homegrown students and researchers to cutting-edge international methodologies, high-impact research collaborations, and global funding networks.
Wits is aware of fake news being shared regarding the number of international staff employed at the University. The total number of international staff is in fact 9%. Pls refrain from sharing misinformation which seeks to sow division in our community and our country.
Our… pic.twitter.com/DQTCqN1a2P
— Wits University (@WitsUniversity) August 30, 2026
Data across public tertiary institutions in South Africa places foreign academic representation between 7% and 8% on average, putting Wits’ 9% workforce figure in line with national higher education benchmarks while maintaining its standing among the top global institutions.
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