Pretoria – The University of South Africa (UNISA) cited for maladministration, tender irregularities, as well as governance failures at the institution could soon be placed under administration.
Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Dr. Blade Nzimande on Monday said he wrote to the UNISA Council Chairperson James Maboa, on Friday, (4 August 2023), informing him of his intention to appoint an administrator to UNISA.
The Minister said he afforded the UNISA Council an opportunity to make written representations to him within seven days of the receipt of his letter.
Minister Nzimande’s decision follows reports by an Independent Assessor, Professor Themba Mosia, and the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on UNISA, Chaired by Dr. Vincent Maphai.
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Minister Nzimande said he was satisfied that the Independent Assessor’s report reveals financial and other maladministration of a serious nature which affects the effective functioning of UNISA.
The report reveals that the appointment of an administrator is in the best interest of UNISA and of higher education in an open and democratic society.
Minister Nzimande said he intends to exercise his powers in terms of Section 49B of the Higher Education Act, 101 of 1997, which empowers him to appoint an administrator.
In terms of Section 49E of the Higher Education Act, the Council of UNISA will be dissolved upon the appointment of an administrator.
The Ministerial Task Team (MTT), conducted an Independent Review of UNISA’s ‘mission drift’ – which had massive implications for the financial sustainability and future of UNISA.
The MTT also made a rigorous assessment of how the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its associative disruptions and shifts will affect many aspects of the academic mission, academic programmes, markets, and operating model of UNISA.
