Sne Masuku

Sne Masuku

Mangosuthu University of Technology in Umlazi, Durban, has officially charged its suspended vice chancellor Aaron Ndlovu with fraud and corruption.

The administrator of the university, Professor Jonathan Jansen, revealed yesterday that a forensic audit handed to the institution on Monday implicated Ndlovu in several other charges, including poor governance and mismanagement.

The forensic investigation, conducted by Price Waterhouse Coopers, cited major problems in the administration and management of university's property and loan accounts, deficiencies in the approval of salaries and expenditures at executive level.

There were also irregularities relating to the employment of students from the SRC on the institution's payroll.

Jansen was appointed earlier this year by the then minister of education Naledi Pandor after an internal investigation into Ndlovu's conduct.

Ndlovu, who earns more than R3million a year, far more than what the country's president earns, was suspended last year pending the outcome of the investigation.

Jansen said the charge sheet was served on Ndlovu yesterday.

Asked how much was found to be missing, Jansen said millions of rands that could not be accounted for had been lost.

"The university lost millions but the real loss is not money. Scores of students and staff that I have engaged with are hurt. The scars of the way they were treated are still here," he said.

Outlining some of the turn- around strategies the university has adopted, he said the quality of teaching and learning remained a major obstacle. As a result, management had made a decision that only academics with a master's degree would be eligible to teach.

"I found that students were teaching students. Certain students, mostly members of the SRC council, were on the university's payroll.

"This is corruption of the highest order. I have put a stop to this," said Jansen.