Abstract
The transition to online teaching and learning has been a new modification in South African Universities due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic. This has contributed to many factors that hinder the effective teaching and learning of many higher learning institutions (HLIs) in South Africa. This study investigates student and lecturer perceptions of online teaching and learning amidst COVID-19. The study adopts the integration model to guide the study, while the quantitative method was utilised from a sample of 138 students and lecturers from Higher Learning Institutions (HLIs) located in the Gauteng Province of South Africa for the data gathering process. The study used an online survey to have insight into the participants' perceptions of online teaching and learning. The study results show that students and lecturers faced more challenges than benefits in adopting online teaching and learning. Further results indicated the challenges involved in online teaching and learning to include ineffective information and knowledge transfer, lack of structure, interactions, and problematic technical issues in the online classes. While the limited satisfactory response from participants included recorded classes, convenience, and time management. The study suggests to higher learning institutions (HLIs) adopt blended teaching modes and strategies that can be utilised to tackle online teaching and learning challenges.