Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Dr Blade Nzimande says he will abide by a Pretoria High Court ruling interdicting him from placing the University of South Africa (UNISA) under administration.
The court interdict came as the minister was due to hold a media briefing on Friday to announce his final decision on the embattled institution’s fate.
This follows reports by an independent assessor that revealed pressing financial and maladministration issues and efforts to undermine the effective functioning of UNISA.
Higher Education, Science and Innovation spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi says, “Minister Nzimande is further concerned about how the South Africa Court system is being used, in this instance, to curtail his executive authority as provided by the Higher Education Act.”
“The minister believes in the supremacy of the Constitution, the law and the doctrine of the separation of powers between the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. He hopes that this should not be one of those instances in which this important Constitutional principle is violated,” adds Mnisi.
VIDEO: Implications of UNISA being placed under administration
UNISA has welcomed the court order.
It says the order, which reaffirms the earlier order by Justice Adams on August 24 was handed down by the high court and is effective immediately.
However, workers union NEHAWU says it supports the minister’s decision.
Nehawu spokesperson Lwazi Nkolonzi says, “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.”
