The research investigates the retention of employees in the institutions of higher learning in South Africa. The research is undertaken because employee at one of the institutions are resigning from their positions and join rival institutions and other organizations. This creates a problem on part of students and management. In order to address the purpose of this research, various retention strategies to keep talented employees are discussed, and factors that lead to employees leaving the institutions are also placed under the spotlight. The research reveal that factors such as working environment, personal career development, emotional exhaustion as well as rewards versus performance exacerbate mass exodus of talented employees at the institution. The findings revealed that managers and supervisors play crucial roles in the interpretation and implementation of strategies. Working conditions should be improved so that employees stay with the institution and perform to the best of their ability. Training should be made compulsory for every employee as it provides necessary skills. Best performance and rewards should match performance in order to keep employees at the institution.