A DISCIPLINARY process has started against lecturers and students implicated in the findings of a forensic audit report into the University of Zululand.
This emerged in Pretoria yesterday when Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande revealed the finding's of the report he instituted 10 months ago when he dissolved the university's council.
University of Pretoria vice-chancellor Professor Chris de Beer, who took over as administrator, said disciplinary action would go ahead against 13 staff members and two students. Criminal cases are still to be opened.
Nzimande said there would be no mercy for those implicated.
De Beer took over as administrator to implement proposals contained in a report by independent assessor Professor Hugh Africa.
The report suggested that a few powerful council members had undermined the academic mission of the university and that some members had used their positions to secure lucrative business at the university.
De Beer said these could not be quantified.
"Over the years, thousands of rands went through procurement but that does not mean the university did not get value, just that procedure was not followed.
"There are instances where there was fruitless expenditure but that does not run into millions. There has also been repeated non-compliance by particular individuals requesting services and giving them to their own companies.
"Processes and protocol for the issuing and auditing of blank degrees and diploma certificates was also compromised, leading to university employees being in possession of large numbers of blank certificates which could have been used to manufacture false certificates," Nzimande said.
He said there was irregular admission and registration of students who did not meet criteria.
De Beer said: "In the education faculty we have those incidents, and two prominent students will not graduate and have left the university out of their own will. We are working with the police to charge them.
"During the investigations many students that were irregularly registered came forward and we are dealing with their situation."
Another finding was that there was "repeated infringement of procurement policies and procedures; reading to preferential treatment and self-enrichment by some members of council and staff".
Two other universities - Walter Sisulu University and the Tshwane University of Technology - are also under administration.
Nzimande said: "We are looking into the universities. Some of the allegations are very serious, like the bugging of staff at TUT.
"We do not take kindly to these things because they are illegal."
He said universities under administration were improving but could not say how much it cost to manage them. "Some of the costs will be shared with the department, but some are absorbed by the individual universities."
Minister to act on certificates scam
A DISCIPLINARY process has started against lecturers and students implicated in the findings of a forensic audit report into the University of Zululand.
This emerged in Pretoria yesterday when Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande revealed the finding's of the report he instituted 10 months ago when he dissolved the university's council.
University of Pretoria vice-chancellor Professor Chris de Beer, who took over as administrator, said disciplinary action would go ahead against 13 staff members and two students. Criminal cases are still to be opened.
Nzimande said there would be no mercy for those implicated.
De Beer took over as administrator to implement proposals contained in a report by independent assessor Professor Hugh Africa.
The report suggested that a few powerful council members had undermined the academic mission of the university and that some members had used their positions to secure lucrative business at the university.
De Beer said these could not be quantified.
"Over the years, thousands of rands went through procurement but that does not mean the university did not get value, just that procedure was not followed.
"There are instances where there was fruitless expenditure but that does not run into millions. There has also been repeated non-compliance by particular individuals requesting services and giving them to their own companies.
"Processes and protocol for the issuing and auditing of blank degrees and diploma certificates was also compromised, leading to university employees being in possession of large numbers of blank certificates which could have been used to manufacture false certificates," Nzimande said.
He said there was irregular admission and registration of students who did not meet criteria.
De Beer said: "In the education faculty we have those incidents, and two prominent students will not graduate and have left the university out of their own will. We are working with the police to charge them.
"During the investigations many students that were irregularly registered came forward and we are dealing with their situation."
Another finding was that there was "repeated infringement of procurement policies and procedures; reading to preferential treatment and self-enrichment by some members of council and staff".
Two other universities - Walter Sisulu University and the Tshwane University of Technology - are also under administration.
Nzimande said: "We are looking into the universities. Some of the allegations are very serious, like the bugging of staff at TUT.
"We do not take kindly to these things because they are illegal."
He said universities under administration were improving but could not say how much it cost to manage them. "Some of the costs will be shared with the department, but some are absorbed by the individual universities."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos