A once-proud national asset, the University of SA (Unisa), has become a “qualifications factory” where degrees and diplomas are churned out to dissatisfied students.
This, said professor Nico Cloete, a research professor in the centre of excellence in scientometrics and science, technology and innovation policy at Stellenbosch University, is the view academics now have of Unisa.
His say comes in the wake of a damning report by a ministerial task team appointed by higher education minister Blade Nzimande to conduct a formal review of Unisa.
It flags, among other things, signs of a “deliberate and systematic plan, over an extended period, by a small but powerful group, to build a carefully constructed network of corrupt officials throughout Unisa”.
Cloete said Unisa's reputation is suffering as it lags behind in the production of research, which is crucial for, among other things, the production of new knowledge.
According to a higher education report, Unisa is ranked 12th in SA for its per capita research publications output in 2018 despite having 1,844 permanent academics. In contrast, the University of Pretoria, which is ranked No 1 for research output, has only 1,205 academics.
“Unisa is not regarded as a top research-producing university and has been surpassed by some of the historically disadvantaged institutions, like the University of Fort Hare,” said Cloete.
Meanwhile, the ministerial task team report, dated August 30, paints a picture of an institution characterised by “poor governance” and “chronic management failures”.
“One of the most disturbing findings about Unisa was that, contrary to instilling an ethical culture, a core group within [the university council] is accused of having created an environment where corruption appears to be commonplace,” the report states.
“This corruption is supported and sustained by a culture of fear, victimisation, and vilification.”
The network of corrupt officials, it says, “has been expanding over the years and has extended to key departments such as SCM [supply chain management] and HR [human resources]".
Unisa council chair Mashukudu Maboa said he could not say because the council has not seen the report.
Higher education spokesperson Ishmael Mnisi said Nzimande is studying the report.
Some of the observations and findings in the report include that:
- Gross incompetence and non-compliance is pervasive in certain departments;
- The university council is wanting in almost every fundamental institutional governance requirement of an higher education institution; and
- The council has failed in its key responsibility to safeguard the academic enterprise, which is the heart of the institution.
“What does concern the ministerial task team is that students are enrolled, subsidy said and NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] funding expended on thousands of students who have very little hope of succeeding,” the report says.
It recommends that Nzimande appoint an administrator for up to two years, and that Unisa's vice-chancellor, professor Puleng LenkaBula, should account to the administrator.
In terms of the Higher Education Act, the council will be dissolved from the time the administrator is appointed.
LenkaBula was appointed vice-chancellor in November 2020, during the time of the review.
What does concern the ministerial task team is that students are enrolled, subsidy said and NSFAS [National Student Financial Aid Scheme] funding expended on thousands of students who have very little hope of succeeding
“Several external and internal experts were surprised that such a momentous appointment had not been deferred until after the completion of the review,” the report says.
“The task team was advised that the minister had initially made a similar appeal to council.”
Joe Samuels, the former CEO of the South African Qualifications Authority, said that “the problems identified are serious. The further deterioration of the institution should be prevented.”
He said the council doesn’t appoint itself, adding: “Those in power should seriously reflect on who they select and appoint to these critical governance structures. They should also ensure that councils have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to carry out their responsibilities.”
The suspended executive director of legal services at Unisa, Modidima Mannya, said the report confirmed what has always been glaringly obvious — a “self-serving council” and the abuse of power by certain members of it.
Mannya was suspended by LenkaBula in April for allegedly abusing his position and rejecting a proposal by her to participate in what she termed, according to him, “a mediation”.
He said in a statement that the report has also exposed “the nature and extent of the dereliction of duty by those entrusted with overseeing proper governance”.
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