Two student leaders at the University of Venda (Univen) have been suspended from the university and charged with misappropriating thousands of rands from student funds.
Student representative council (SRC) spokesperson Bongani Sarela confirmed this week that SRC president Philip Leshabane and his deputy Pat Mabaso have been barred from participating in student activities pending a disciplinary inquiry against them by the university council.
The two were suspended last week after a preliminary investigation by the university management into allegations that they defrauded the university of more than R9 000. Sarela said Leshabane and Mabaso allegedly made a fraudulent requisition of more than R9 000 from the university. The allegation was made by the South African Student Congress (Sasco).
Sasco alleges that Leshabane and Mabaso made out a false requisition for a trip to Fort Hare University. They claimed they were attending a meeting of SRCs from historically disadvantaged institutions at Fort Hare. Sarela, also a Sasco member, said his organisation found that there was no such meeting.
He said the two claimed about R9 600 for transport costs, accommodation, entertainment and subsistence from the university. They were allegedly accompanied by two friends.
Univen normally suspends or expels students guilty of misconduct. But owing to the seriousness of the allegations, student leaders say the university disciplinary council may recommend harsher measures against Leshabane and Mabaso.
The two have not yet appeared before the disciplinary hearing.
They are not the first Univen SRC leaders to be hauled before a disciplinary hearing for alleged corruption. In 1999 three Univen SRC leaders were suspended after they allegedly defrauded the university of R77 000.
The three allegedly made out false orders to a Johannesburg company for stage and sound equipment and for musicians. A requisition was made to the SRC for R500 000 to cover the cost of a party. An investigation found that they asked the company to charge a higher price for the equipment and arranged to receive the difference.
Univen spokesperson Mbangiseni Masia this week said the university takes allegations against student leaders ”seriously, hence the disciplinary hearing”.