Pretoria – Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr. Blade Nzimande has served a notice of his intention to place the University of South Africa (UNISA) Under Administration.
The move follows the university’s failure to respond to findings by an independent probe of financial and other maladministration of a serious nature that affects the smooth running of UNISA.
Minister Nzimande will announce his final decision today, Friday, (6 October 2023), the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation said.
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“The minister delayed making his decision on mutual agreement that the period of the written representations be extended to the 4th September 2023,” the department said.
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The department added: “Being mindful of the legal and administrative requirements, the minister awaited the response of the UNISA Council and nothing of substance happened for more than a month, instead the Council was going about its business as if there is no pending decision to be taken.
“As a result, the minister cannot wait indefinitely without taking a decision.”
The department said Minister Nzimandes intention to place UNISA under Administration follows the reports of an Independent Assessor, Professor Themba Mosia, and the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on UNISA Chaired by Dr. Vincent Maphai.
The minister was satisfied that the Independent Assessors report reveals financial and other maladministration of a serious nature and serious undermining of the effective functioning of UNISA.
“The Report also reveals that the appointment of an administrator is in the best interest of UNISA and of higher education in an open and democratic society,” the department said.
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The Ministerial Task Team (MTT) on the other hand, conducted an Independent Review of the University of South Africa (UNISA), and looked at the issue of “UNISAs mission drift” which had massive implications for the financial sustainability and future of UNISA.
The MTT was also tasked to make 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.
