Legal showdown looms as Dental Council opposes universities' accreditation challenge
Dentist Legal tensions escalate as members of the South African Dental Technicians Council (SADTC) and associated institutions face off in an ongoing strike and court battle over governance, regulation, and professional oversight in the sector.
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In an escalating battle over the accreditation of dental technology programmes that has left students across the country in limbo, the SA Dental Technicians Council (SADTC) has confirmed it is preparing to oppose legal action brought by three universities.
The regulator said it has formally received court papers from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), alongside the Durban University of Technology and the Tshwane University of Technology, and has already moved to respond.
"We have instructed our legal team to oppose and deal with the matter accordingly," the Council said.
The legal move marks a significant escalation in a long-running dispute between universities and the SADTC over the accreditation and regulation of dental technology programmes, a standoff that has disrupted academic programmes, delayed graduations, and raised concerns about whether affected students will be able to practise professionally.
Despite the court challenge, the SADTC made it clear that its position remains unchanged.
In response to whether the legal action would affect its stance, the Council responded: "No."
The regulator has maintained that it has the statutory authority to oversee the education and training of dental technicians and to ensure that programmes meet the required standards before graduates can be registered to practise.
"The role of the statutory council/regulator in the education and training of dental technology as stated in the Act and the regulations should be upheld for the benefit of the students and the protection of the public," the SADTC said.
The dispute centres on compliance requirements, including the approval of laboratory facilities and the alignment of university programmes with regulatory standards.
The Council has previously warned that students graduating from non-accredited programmes risk being unable to register and work in the profession.
Universities however, have pushed back, arguing that the regulator has overstepped its mandate and that programmes remain accredited at an institutional level through the Council on Higher Education.
At CPUT, students have spent months without classes while negotiations between the university and the regulator stalled.
Teaching disruptions began in 2025, and although plans have been outlined to resume classes, progress remains tied to regulatory approval of facilities and programme conditions.
Students have described their uncertainty over whether their qualifications will ultimately allow them to enter the workforce.
The latest legal action now places the dispute squarely in the courts, even as government has attempted to broker a solution.
The Department of Higher Education and Training previously indicated that it was engaging with the Department of Health on the matter, but attempts to obtain an update from the department on the outcome of those engagements have been unsuccessful.