Chester Makana

After being dogged by allegations of corruption, the University of Venda for Science and Technology has set up a hotline, Tip-Offs, to fight fraud and corruption at the institution.

The university is alleged to have lost more than R4million because of corruption over the past five years.

University spokesperson Takalani Dzaga says a private company has been given the task of handling the hotline in all languages used by the university stakeholders.

He said the Tip-Offs hotline started operating last month.

The university was labelled corrupt by students and officials, who then raised concern with Minister of Education Naledi Pandor and sent a corruption dossier that led to division in management.

"The University decided to introduce a hotline service as an important management tool on campus to maintain a sound public reputation for honest and ethical business practices," said Dzaga

Humphrey Maluleke of the Democratic Alliance Students Organisation said they welcomed the decision by the university management to run the Tip-Offs hotline.

He said they expected the company appointed to handle the hotline to operate without fear or favour.