media releases - Council Task Team completes investigation into allegations

STATEMENT BY UNISA's CHAIR OF COUNCIL, DR N M PHOSA

Early in 2009 one of Unisa's stakeholders, NEHAWU, brought a number of allegations against the University's Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof N Barney  Pityana and members of the Senior Management, to Council's attention. Council appointed a small Council Task Team to investigate and assess the matters raised by NEHAWU which broadly fell into the following categories:

• Purported breakdown in relations between NEHAWU and Senior Management and in particular with the Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof Pityana:
• Alleged public party political involvement of the Vice Chancellor and  Principal during the latter part of 2008 and the earlier part of 2009; and
• Alleged cases of non compliance with University policies on some operational matters pertaining to the running of the University.

Despite many delays in bringing their work to a close, the Task Team  concluded its activities by early December 2009 and in relation to the above three issues  found as follows:

• In order to safeguard and cultivate the relationships between the University and its many categories of stakeholders, regular use should in future be made of snap climate surveys amongst these stakeholder groupings. Such a pro-active approach would avoid situations where mutual discussions and debates in the interest of the University are no longer possible.
• Although in full support of the constitutional rights of every Unisa employee, including those of the Vice Chancellor and Principal, Council will oversee the development of a broad code of conduct for members of senior management of the University with regard to public political and religious activities. Such a code of conduct  must take into account the integrative role which members of Senior Management are required to play  in an institution such as a University, where differing views and opinions on broad academic and social issues, are not only tolerated, but as part of the ethos of university,  are actively encouraged. 
• No substantive evidence in regard to the operational matters raised by NEHAWU was supplied. In addition it was found that many of the matters raised by them could, and should, have been accommodated within the brief and responsibilities of existing structures such as the University's Internal Audit Function which operates under the oversight of Council's Audit and Risk management Committee. In addition Council will seek to enhance the role and function of the University's Ombudsman as well as ensure that greater usage is made of existing whistle blowing provisions. 

In conclusion Council wishes to thank the Task Team for their work in the interest of the University and wishes to express its full confidence in Senior Management, and in particular in the Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof Barney Pityana,   for its management and running of the University and in developing Unisa to such great heights and standing as 'the African university in the service of humanity'. 

Dr N M Phosa: Chair of Council - 7 December 2009