The University of South Africa (UNISA) has welcomed the High Court order that interdicts the Minister of Higher Education, Blade Nzimande.
Dr Nzimande was to announce his final decision on Friday following reports of an Independent Assessor Professor Themba Mosia and the ministerial task team on Unisa chaired by Dr Vincent Maphai that revealed maladministration and the undermining of the effective functioning of UNISA.
The university says the order, which reaffirms the earlier order by Justice Adams on 24th of August, was handed down by the High Court on Friday and is effective immediately.
“Unisa has always maintained that the Report of the Independent Assessor is fundamentally flawed, and its recommendations totally misplaced. For that reason, the university has taken the Report on legal review to be set aside.”
The institution further adds, “Until the side of the university is properly heard in a legal review, in a court of law, the university believes that it is premature for the Minister to implement the recommendations of the Independent Assessor. Unisa also believes that the institution of an Administration is not necessary and may only serve to harm the university.”
However, the workers union NEHAWU says it supports the minister’s decision. NEHAWU spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi says, “NEHAWU in the Gauteng province fully supports the decision of the Minister of Higher Education to send a notice to the university council, UNISA and the Vice Chancellor that intends to inform them of their intention to put an institution under administration. As a union, we have been at the forefront of efforts to end maladministration, poor governance, and indeed, what we would perceive as corruption, and dictatorship that has been prevalent in the institution. We fully support the decision to put that institution under administration.”
UNISA’s National SRC president Nathi Mabilane speaks with SABC News:
