Pule waga Mabe As technikons try to redefine themselves as universities of technology, some institutions are encountering problems likely to hamper their progress. Irregularities and outstanding charges of maladministration and racism are threatening a number of technikons. This, according to some technikon officials, may damage smooth mergers in line with the recommendations of the Council on Higher Education (CHE). The CHE has recommended a possible merger between Technikon Northern Gauteng (TNG) and Technikon North West. But the two technikons appear to have long-term management problems and there is more than R20-million in student debt between the two.
Student debt is not the only problem disturbing the smooth running of Technikon North West. There are also management problems. Academic and non-academic staff went on strike at the end of July, demanding a 14% salary increase, while students have been demanding the closure of operational offices, for example in residences, where students claim officials are ineffective. Problems in TNG are even worse. The technikon has also been probed by the auditor generalOs office, while the elite unit, the Scorpions, is currently investigating charges of bribery and intimidation against senior security management.
In a memorandum presented by the TNG studentsO representative council (SRC) to the rectorate a month ago, students demanded the immediate expulsion of the head of campus protection services, Rakgadi Sebothoma, and the deputy director of maintenance, Master Ngoma. The two officials were given Ospecial leaveO with full pay while a task team of lawyers from Madlopha Attorneys and Conveyancers was instituted to investigate the allegations. According to Andrew Mathidza, the SRC president and a member of the Technikon Council, the task team will be paid almost R60 000 although it has already exceeded its seven-day mandate to verify or reject the allegations. Mathidza said the task teamOs interim report to the council has still not been approved for public release. Last year the former chair of the Technikon Council, Dr Abe Nkomo, asked the auditor general to investigate allegations of financial irregularities at TNG. According to the auditor generalOs findings, the budget for the financial year 1999 was finalised only during August at which stage most departments had already overspent on their allocation, which points to unauthorised expenditure. TNGOs financial woes do not end there. Hoaten and Associates, a law firm representing Protection Portfolio security company, has filed a R4-million case in the Pretoria High Court against the technikon for breach of contract. And racism charges could damage TNGOs image. A senior lecturer, Dr Christiaan Tabi, has charged the vice-rector (academic), Professor Lawrence van Staden, with racism and intimidation. Tabi claims the post of senior lecturer in physical science was frozen after he applied for it because he was the only possible candidate and he is black. He says he is more qualified than anyone else in the department.
OI find the behaviour of senior management subversive and it undermines the governmentOs efforts for transformation and reconciliation. These are modern-day askaris who are sabotaging the government and our democracy,O he said.
Professor George Lenyai, the rector of TNG and former chair of the Association of Historically Disadvantaged Institutions, says the technikon has a three-year rolling plan which responds to the developmental needs of society and that Otechnikons are in as giants in science and technologyO. Meanwhile, Lenyai said the rectorate is in the process of generating trust between management and students by engaging the student leadership in meetings with the rectorate and issuing circulars to update the technikon community about institutional progress.
The Committee of Technikon Principals is working towards inviting financial advisers to provide advice to technikons on cash management and the optimising of medium- and long-term investments, says the committeeOs executive director, Professor Roy du Pr, adding that the committee condemns financial mismanagement and maladministration in any institution.