Ntuthuko Maphumulo
The administrator of the University of the North and his management team were forced to leave the campus last Friday when about 100 students and non-students occupied their offices.
Professor Patrick Fitzgerald was appointed by Minister of Education Kader Asmal last year after the university’s vice-chancellor, Biki Minyuku, was suspended following staff complaints that he was unfit for the position.
The university has a student debt of more than R180-million. One of Fitzgerald’s chief responsibilities is to recover that money.
The student protesters demanded Minyuku’s reinstatement and a decrease in registration and student fees. There was no violence and no serious damage to property, but the students threatened management and staff.
On Tuesday Fitzgerald and his team met student leaders, with police standing guard to prevent further protests. He agreed to reduce tuition, registration and residence fees for the current academic year.
Students with bad debts should make arrangements to pay them off on a monthly basis and will be allowed to register this year.
Minyuku successfully challenged his suspension in the Labour Court but has not yet returned to the university. He is still receiving a salary.
Fitzgerald has been given six months to facilitate Minyuku’s return and rescue the financial situation at the university.
In an address to staff and students last month, Fitzgerald said he was confident that the university could be turned into a winning organisation.
“Our core business is learning, teaching and also research and it is on how well we carry out and accomplish this core business that we will stand or fall. All management and support service employees and units must accept that they exist to service this academic core business and that management, administrative and support posts and structures are not prizes or spoils to be contested by various warlords.
“I call upon all of you to participate and assist in building and rebuilding this culture of a winning organisation and leave behind those cultures of a losing organisation.
“I will not hesitate to take action against those loafing or negligent when they should be seeing to student needs. This does not imply any licence to students to behave irresponsibly or badly. However, I strongly believe that if students can see our honest efforts to support them, they will also be prepared to consult courteously and properly through the correct channels.”