Mangosuthu University of Technology’s long serving vice-chancellor Professor Aaron Ndlovu had been told to take a leave of absence, the Mercury newspaper reported on Monday.
University council chairperson, Durban Mayor Obed Mlaba, said the council told Ndlovu on Friday to take leave.
”We need to look at … governance at the university as there are some discrepancies that we have picked up. We asked that the vice-chancellor take leave while these issues are investigated,” Mlaba was quoted as saying.
In a statement issued by the institution’s executive committee, it said that an independent body or individual would be appointed to carry out an inquiry.
The first report was expected within 60 days of the appointment.
”The inquiry will look into, among other things, the benefits payable by the university to the vice-chancellor,” it read.
Ndlovu’s tenure at the university, since his appointment in 1997, has been mired in controversy.
He was suspended from his post in 2000 after the education department investigated students’ and staff complaints of favouritism, nepotism and illegal expenditure. Ndlovu was reinstated after the charges against him were dropped.
In 2006, Ndlovu was named one of the top earners among heads of tertiary institutions in the country, taking home R3,2-million a year.
Earlier this year, he was accused of having a political agenda after 16 students (who were members of Inkatha Freedom Party youth body, the South African Democratic Students’ Movement) were suspended for allegedly drinking on campus. In July, nine of the 16 were expelled.
Vice-principal Professor Edmund Zingu has been appointed acting vice-chancellor. – Sapa