The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has urged universities to prioritise ethics when appointing vice-chancellors and council members.
This call was made during a briefing on the progress at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) in addressing administrative challenges.
VUT Challenges
The committee noted VUT's progress in appointing a vice-chancellor and chancellor after the institution emerged from administration. However, concerns were raised about the numerous vacant senior management positions, particularly the registrar role.
VUT has been plagued by governance and management challenges, prompting repeated government interventions. In 2019, the university was placed under administration by then Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation, Blade Nzimande, with former University of Johannesburg vice-chancellor Professor Ihron Rensburg appointed as administrator.
Recently, VUT has been embroiled in further controversy with the preventive suspension of its registrar, Dr. Dan Mokoena, on 26 October 2023. The suspension allegedly stems from a falling-out between Mokoena and VUT council chairperson, Professor Mandla Radebe.
Following his suspension, Mokoena contacted Minister Nzimande, detailing serious allegations against Radebe and requesting the minister’s intervention.
The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) confirmed receipt of Mokoena’s correspondence. Minister Nzimande is awaiting a departmental analysis of the accompanying documents before determining the way forward.
VUT spokesperson Kediemetse Mokotsi confirmed the suspension, emphasising that it is precautionary pending an investigation. Mokotsi also noted that Radebe is aware of Mokoena’s allegations and intends to address them in an appropriate forum when the time comes.
Challenges with student residences were also discussed as the committee noted that many students are forced to seek private accommodation due the intuitions failure to accommodate them. This has resulted in revenue losses for the university.
The committee expressed concerns about the state of affairs in student residences, which has forced many students to opt for private accommodation. This is causing the university to lose out on much-needed revenue.
The committee advised VUT to report contractors who fail to complete infrastructure projects to the DHET for blacklisting and suggested that the university use the Independent Electoral Commission for its Student Representative Council elections, recommending manual voting.
the university should consider using the services of the Independent Electoral Commission for their Student Representative Council elections and that these elections should be held manually.
MUT
At MUT, the committee welcomed the appointment of Professor Nokuthula Sibiya as the first female vice-chancellor in the university’s 45-year history and received assurances that the remaining senior posts would be filled by the end of September.
Despite concerns about a culture of victimisation following recent suspensions at MUT, the DHET reported that the administrator is making progress in turning the institution around.
Committee Chairperson Tebogo Letsie emphasised the need to move away from relying on independent assessors and expressed concern over predominantly black-run institutions frequently being placed under administration.
We need to move away from a period of independent assessors and it can’t be that predominantly black-run institutions are the ones that always fall under administration
The committee plans to address student accommodation challenges in an upcoming meeting with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).
