THE damning forensic audit report into the University of Zululand released by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande raises serious concerns about the state of the institutions in our country.
Nzimande had in April last year dissolved the university council and appointed University of Pretoria senior vice-principal Professor Chris de Beer as administrator.
Forensic auditors appointed to conduct an audit of the University of Zululand in the areas of procurement, admission and registration of students as well as management and governance have come out with shocking revelations.
The forensic team found among other things that university employees were in possession of blank certificates while on the other hand it also established that students who did not meet admission criteria bribed their way to be registered at the university.
These are just two examples that paint a grim picture of the state of affairs at the institution.
We can only wonder as to how many people out there are employed in very serious positions after having branded fake certifications.
The team also found that there had also been repeated infringements of procurement policies and procedures that led to the preferential treatment and situations were some council members and staff enriched themselves.
There is a huge problem at universities such as Zululand, especially in areas of finances and fiscal planning. It is our view that such institutions show there is dire need for competency, both at council and administrative level.
It will not serve our while to constitute council which comprise of people who are found wanting in terms of human resources and also fiscal planning.
People who sit on the councils of these institutions must not be emotionally elected and should therefore be drawn from people who have the necessary experience of overseeing the running of the varsities.
Council members who are not well-armed will only be there to draw board fees while rubber-stamping the plunder of public funds. It is a lamentable reality that at many universities such skills are conspicuously absent.
We are encouraged by the actions taken by Nzimande and believe his efforts will ultimately bring about the desired results.
Stop the rot at our varsities
THE damning forensic audit report into the University of Zululand released by Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande raises serious concerns about the state of the institutions in our country.
Nzimande had in April last year dissolved the university council and appointed University of Pretoria senior vice-principal Professor Chris de Beer as administrator.
Forensic auditors appointed to conduct an audit of the University of Zululand in the areas of procurement, admission and registration of students as well as management and governance have come out with shocking revelations.
The forensic team found among other things that university employees were in possession of blank certificates while on the other hand it also established that students who did not meet admission criteria bribed their way to be registered at the university.
These are just two examples that paint a grim picture of the state of affairs at the institution.
We can only wonder as to how many people out there are employed in very serious positions after having branded fake certifications.
The team also found that there had also been repeated infringements of procurement policies and procedures that led to the preferential treatment and situations were some council members and staff enriched themselves.
There is a huge problem at universities such as Zululand, especially in areas of finances and fiscal planning. It is our view that such institutions show there is dire need for competency, both at council and administrative level.
It will not serve our while to constitute council which comprise of people who are found wanting in terms of human resources and also fiscal planning.
People who sit on the councils of these institutions must not be emotionally elected and should therefore be drawn from people who have the necessary experience of overseeing the running of the varsities.
Council members who are not well-armed will only be there to draw board fees while rubber-stamping the plunder of public funds. It is a lamentable reality that at many universities such skills are conspicuously absent.
We are encouraged by the actions taken by Nzimande and believe his efforts will ultimately bring about the desired results.
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