Digital Inequality and Transformation in South African Higher Education During COVID-19: A Comparative Analysis of Historically Disadvantaged and Historically Advantaged Universities

Abstract How did digital transformation and digital inequality manifest in South Africa’s higher education institutions during COVID-19, particularly comparing historically disadvantaged universities (HDUs) with historically advantaged universities (HAUs). This study is significant because it explores the direct impact of digital transformation on South African public universities and how digital inequality worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative research techniques were used in the study. The literature was collected from online repositories, and it was analysed using content analysis. The study covered all public HDUs and HAUs in South African public sector. Findings indicate that in terms of the state of digital transformation, HDUs lag behind HAUs for various reasons. The causes of digital inequality are multifaceted and include a lack of technology expertise, unredressed apartheid policies, poor network coverage, lack of access to information technology and poor infrastructure. These challenges can be addressed through policy reformulation, infrastructure development and institutional collaboration.