The University of South Africa (Unisa) has been recommended to be placed under administration due to allegations of maladministration and tender irregularities.
In a report, compiled by Independent Assessor Professor Thabo Mosia, it detailed how millions of rands were misused under the watch of both the university’s council and management.
According to Mosia, the South African public university has been plagued by governance issues since 2016.
Recently, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Gauteng has been alarmed by the recent developments at the university, subsequent to the latest report released by the Assessor.
In a statement, the union pointed out that the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) should use the institution's dented reputation as leverage to save it from the embarrassment that it is currently subjected to.
COSATU has questioned the procedure that was followed to suspend the registrar and the union is also of the opinion that the Unisa council should take such a decision as a collective, not an individual.
In May 2022, two of the university’s council members tendered their resignations but the university has confirmed that the vacancies, occasioned by the two resignations, have also been filled.
The Unisa Council finalised and approved its response to the 309-page document that had been compiled by Mosia.
According to the Council, the response will reach the Higher Education office within the agreed time frame between the Higher Education Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande, and Council.
The institution’s council also looks forward to the guidance and confirmed that it is committed to further engagements should the need arise.
What’s Being Done To Look Into Governance In TVET Colleges?
Recently, the DHET has entered a partnership with the University of The Western Cape to conduct research into the governance of South African public TVET colleges. As the research is currently underway, the final report is expected at the end of the 2023 academic year.
The findings of the report will be used to focus the institutional support provided by the Department on areas that require immediate intervention.
