By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The University of South Africa (UNISA) has dismissed media reports that it wrote to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande to plead with him not to place the institution under administration.
This follows a court ruling last year stopping Nzimande from acting on an independent assessor’s report which flagged corruption and maladministration at the university.
At a Wednesday press briefing, acting vice principal for institutional development Professor Ramogoai Magano, said it was Nzimande’s lawyers who wrote to Unisa proposing an out-of-court settlement.
“Unisa never wrote such a letter to the minister. We can, however, confirm that discussions did take place between the lawyers of minister [Nzimande] and the university at their behest of the minister’s lawyers, and during which meeting a proposal for an out-of-court settlement was made to the university.
“This was followed up with a formal letter to the university tabling the proposal. The university decided that it is both in the university and minister’s interest that the Independent Assessor’s report be adjudicated by the judiciary,”explained Magano.
Late last year, Nzimande withdrew a gazette notice seeking to place the university under administration following the assessor’s report.
Unisa probing graft allegations against CFO
Magano said they view recent reports of the institution’s acting chief financial officer soliciting and receiving bribes in a serious light.
Claims a whistleblower alerted Unisa’s management to the alleged clandestine conduct of Dr Reshma Mathura emerged in the media earlier this month.
Unisa said its instituted an internal investigation, the outcome of which will inform the next steps to be taken.
Muthara has denied any wrongdoing.
Dishonesty and Plagiarism
Unisa confirmed that it is investigating just over 1,450 students for dishonesty and plagiarism.
The university said it has set itself a target of addressing 75 of these per week.
Magano, assured the public these investigations and disciplinary processes were being conducted in accordance with Unisa’s stringent policies regarding academic integrity.
“It must be emphasised that students who are under investigations and/or undergoing disciplinary hearings are allowed to register in the intervening period to ensure that, should they be found not guilty, they are disadvantaged about their studies and academic progress, “Magano said.
The university furthermore said it felt the need to address the issue because this had become a public issue, considering that this was not the first time accusations of a cheating scandal had surfaced.
Despite the allegations of students cheating, Unisa said it will not conduct in-person examinations.
Magano said the formal hearings set to resolve the pending cases have begun.
“All cases pertaining to non-adherence to the Invigilator App have been concluded. Based on the conclusion of the investigations that the contraventions were minor, the students were given warning letters.”
It furthermore said any student who is found to have participated in any fraudulent or dishonest activity related to assessments or exams will be referred to the Student Disciplinary Unit for investigation and disciplinary action.