Unisa Under Administration by South African Minister
In a major development, the University of South Africa (Unisa), the largest university in the country, is now under administration following a decision made by Blade Nzimande, the South African Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Innovation. This decision comes after months of uncertainty and legal disputes that prevented the minister from taking action.
Basis for the Decision
The decision to place Unisa under administration was based on two significant reports: the Independent Assessor report conducted by Professor Themba Mosia and the Ministerial Task Team (MTT) report. These reports revealed serious concerns about Unisa’s administration, governance, quality, and sustainability. It was identified that management failures and actions taken by the council were the root causes of these issues.
Administrator Responsibilities
Unisa will be under administration for 24 months, starting from October 27, 2024. During this period, the administrator will take on the responsibilities of the council and oversee the management of the university. Some key tasks include restoring proper governance, creating a turnaround plan to address the identified problems, conducting a forensic audit to rectify financial irregularities, and revising the university’s statutes and policies. Additionally, efforts will be made to improve Unisa’s performance as an Open Distance e-Learning institution, support student success, and evaluate potential council members.
Unisa’s Response
Unisa strongly disagrees with the minister’s decision, citing a recent court order that initially prevented the minister from placing the institution under administration. The university argues that the minister’s announcement is premature and goes against the Court Order issued on October 6, 2024, which prohibited any administrative action by the minister.
Unisa points out that the matter is still pending in court, as indicated by Justice Adams’ previous order on August 24, 2024, which required the minister to refrain from making any decisions until the legal process was complete. The university also criticizes the timing of the minister’s announcement, given that students are currently in the midst of examinations. Unisa clarifies that its stance is not against the minister’s authority, but rather emphasizes the importance of adhering to the country’s legal framework.
Conclusion
In response to the minister’s decision, Unisa has taken the matter to court urgently, seeking to challenge the announcement made on October 27, 2024. The university assures its community that it will provide further updates as the legal process unfolds.
