The University of South Africa (Unisa) has confirmed the precautionary suspension of its registrar, professor Steward Mothata.
According to the university, the issues the led to Mothata’s suspension have been outlined to him in a confidential letter shared with him.
“Please note that this is a matter between professor Mothata and the university, and the standing practice in the university is not to discuss such matters in the public domain, including through the media,” said the university in a statement.
“There are existing internal platforms for addressing such matters, which all employees are fully conversant with.
“Unisa has noted with concern the spurious allegations attributed to prof Mothata, in which he is said to have told some media that he is being targeted for telling ‘the truth’, and that the suspension letter is ‘vague’.
“We want to put it on record that it was necessary for the university to put prof Mothata on precautionary suspension owing to his conduct which is in breach of Unisa’s code of ethics and conduct and the employee disciplinary code.”
Unisa added that the suspension is necessary for continued functioning and governance of the university. It is of the view that due processes were followed, which informed the decision to place Mothata on suspension.
The university also noted rumours being peddled in the public domain that council no longer quorate, and as such cannot hold meetings. The institution has obtained legal opinion stating that council does quorate and should therefore continue with its business.
“The university also reassures its community and other stakeholders that the business of the university is continuing as usual, i.e. teaching and learning, research and innovation and engaged scholarship.”
Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande and Unisa’s professor Themba Mosia ordered an independent investigation into the affairs of the university.
In the report, which was released in May, Mosia recommended it be placed under full administration.
Following the release of the report, Unisa’s two council members Belinda Mapongwanaa and Sedzani Mudau rendered resignation letters amid wide-ranging issues at the university.
Meanwhile, the National Education, Health, and Allied Workers Union has called for vice-chancellor, professor Puleng LenkaBula, to be removed from her position, while the former head of legal services at Unisa, advocate Modidima Mannya, added his voice to those calling for law-enforcement agencies to be unleashed on her.
Mannya said he hopes Nzimande will act on the recommendations and findings made against the vice-chancellor, after the ministerial task team report made similar findings against her.
Mosia made damning findings against Unisa and LenkaBula’s R3-million splurge of university money in upgrading the official residence and her demand of a Mercedes-Benz GLE 400d at a staggering R1.9-million, against a Mercedes-Benz E-class used by previous vice-chancellors.
More than R285 000 was spent on sheer curtains, as well as R8 000 for instruction on how to use a vacuum cleaner, R74 000 for air-conditioning, R19 000 for a glass gas hob, and R3 000 for a mattress protector.
His report also put the institution under the spotlight for cheating allegations, especially during 2022 when the online exams triggered the spike.
“The latest figures of student disciplinary statistics, provided to me on 6 December 2022, is a total of 10 954 cases of academic misconduct for the 2022 examination period,” reads the report.
“The increase in disciplinary cases is caused by students enlisting the help of third parties to complete examinations, assignments, or any coursework. Students are paying for services to complete an exam or assignment.”
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