South Africa: Nehawu Welcomes the Decision to Place Unisa Under Administration

27 October 2023
Congress of South African Trade Unions (Johannesburg)
press release

Special Note: Happy 37th Anniversary to COSATU. Formed December 1985

Friday October 27, 2023

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union [NEHAWU] welcomes the decision by Minister Nzimande to place UNISA under administration by appointing Professor Ihron Rensburg as an Administrator as published in the Government Gazette No. 49582 of 27 October 2023.

The Minister has appointed the Administrator for the University in accordance with Section 49B of the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997, as amended). The decision by the Minister is informed by the Independent Assessor' Report which amongst others recommended that the Minister appoint an Administrator due to the collapse of governance and administration at the institution.

As NEHAWU, we welcome this decision, as we have long called on the Minister to appoint an administrator at UNISA due to the deplorable state of governance and administration at the institution. The institution has been confronted with a myriad of challenges stemming from rampant scourge of maladministration, poor governance and administration in the institution. As NEHAWU, we have been constant in highlighting these issues which have collapsed governance and administration at UNISA.

The Independent Assessor Report exposed the decay and rot in the institution which is characterised by maladministration, financial irregularities, human resources failures, fragile and troubled ICT environment, poor student services, academic malpractices, culture of fear, intimidation and bullying, questionable Management and Council decisions, amongst others.

The decision to place UNISA under administration provides an opportunity to restore the credibility and image of UNISA as a centre of knowledge production, restoring proper governance and administration as well as systems, and building confidence of all stakeholders for the stability of the institution. The terms of reference of the Administrator will go a long way in achieving the set-out objectives which amongst others include: Identifying and initiating processes and initiatives that will restore proper governance and management at the University, develop and begin the implementation of a turn-around plan that will address the range of problems and challenges that have been identified in the Independent Assessor Report.

Lastly, we are eagerly awaiting for the opportunity to meet with the Administrator in order to affirm our commitment in support of a stable and functional UNISA.

END

Read the original article on COSATU.

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