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Sunday Independent reports that, in a damning report, the governing council of the University of South Africa (Unisa), has been severely criticised for its lack of good governance and failure to safeguard the academic future of the institution.
The report also strongly suggests the prosecution of individuals who have conducted themselves improperly. “Council is the root cause of the problems at Unisa,” states the report of the ministerial task team on the Review of the University of South Africa. It calls on the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, to probe financial impropriety and mismanagement at the institution. It blasts the university council for failing in its vital responsibility to safeguard the academic enterprise, the heart of the institution, and the raison d’être for a university’s very existence. The findings were described by an academic as a scathing indictment of the council, which served during the tenure of the former Unisa vice-chancellor, Professor Mandla Makhanya, who left office on 29 April 2021. On 2 September 2021, Unisa inaugurated its first woman vice-chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula. But it has been a baptism of fire for her as she sets about stamping her authority while cleaning up the legacy issues. Such issues have manifested themselves appallingly in this report. On staff shortages, the reports finds: “Academic staff at Unisa are stretched to the limit, with insufficient staff numbers in proportion to the rising numbers of students. In addition, a huge number of academic staff vacancies persist. As a result, there is inadequate student support.” According to the report, there is a pervasive culture of corruption, impunity, conflict, fear, and intimidation at Unisa. Nzimande’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Edwin Naidu on page 6 of Sunday Independent of 17 October 2021 or at University World News
- Read too, Unisa in grip of graft ‘network’, on page 4 of Sunday Times of 17 October 2021
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page