… assures public that academic programme remains intact
Our Reporter
THE University of South Africa (Unisa) has welcomed the High Court order interdicting higher education minister, Blade Nzimande, from placing the university under administration.
The order, which reaffirms an earlier order by Justice Leicester Adams on 24 August 2023, was handed down last Fridayand is effective immediately.
Justice Adams had ruled on 24 August 2023, that “pending the finalisation of the urgent application herein and the urgent application under case number 2023-082535, the first respondent undertakes not to take any decision pursuant to the report entitled ‘Report of the Independent Assessor into the Affairs of the University of South Africa (UNISA)’, dated 31 March 2023, prepared by the second respondent, published in the Government Gazette 48660 (Government Notice 3461) of 26 May 2023.”
In a statement on Friday, Unisa said it had always maintained that the report of the Independent Assessor was“fundamentally flawed, and its recommendations totally misplaced”.
“For that reason, the university has taken the report on legal review to be set aside. Until the side of the university is properly heard in a legal review, in a court of law, the university believes that it is premature for the Minister to implement the recommendations of the Independent Assessor. Unisa also believes that the institution of an Administration is not necessary and may only serve to harm the university,” said Unisa.
“Once more, Unisa wishes to assure the public that the academic programme of the university remains intact, and its finances are healthy. In May 2023, the Council on Higher Education (CHE) issued its Institutional Audit Report that affirms that Unisa’s academic programme and quality assurance systems are largely intact and governed according to norms and standards of the sector.
“We hope that our students will be afforded the opportunity to focus on their final examinations which are currently underway, without any form of anxiety or disturbance. The academic programme must be hoisted and protected all the time. Further, we look forward to welcoming all our new students in the new academic year 2024 and appreciate their choice to study at the University of South Africa – the university of the land,” Unisa said.
