Sunday Times reports that Unisa’s council is to make an urgent application in the North Gauteng high court on Tuesday to interdict Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande from placing the institution under administration.

Nzimande wrote to council chair James Maboa on 4 August informing him that he was satisfied that a report by independent assessor Prof Themba Mosia “reveals financial and other maladministration of a serious nature and serious undermining of the effective functioning of Unisa”. He told Maboa that Mosia’s report indicated that the appointment of an administrator would be in the best interests of Unisa and of higher education in an open and democratic society. Nzimande recently agreed to extend the period for council to make representations to him to 30 days from the date of his 4 August notice. Meantime, Maboa will also asking the court for an order interdicting Nzimande from implementing any of Mosia’s recommendations contained in his report dated 13 March. According to Maboa, the university “will be dissolved based on an unlawful and invalid report” and the impact “will only bring disrespect and disgrace on the name of the university.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Prega Govender at Sunday Times (subscriber access only)
• Read too, Call to oppose Nzimande’s decision to place Unisa under administration, at Sunday Independent

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