Fort Hare finally appoints its new CFO

FORT Hare University has appointed former Eastern Cape cooperative governance senior official Nielesh Ravgee as its new chief financial officer.

The position was left vacant after Robin Stone left at the end of 2015, following an exposé into possible financial bankruptcy at the university.

The Daily Dispatch had reported that UFH faced financial instability before end of 2015 because of unresolved student debt close to R67million.

Last year the university was reported to have battled to pay creditors and student allowances due to delays in receiving NSFAS funds because staff had filled in claim forms incorrectly.

Ravgee comes to the university at a time where it is faced with a major backlog in infrastructure and major struggles in sourcing funding.

Ravgee also left under a cloud following the publication of a report on how Cogta spent more than R109million purchasing “smartpens”.

The smartpens were meant to enable Cogta’s community development workers (CDWs) to relay information gathered from families who needed social grants or housing to the department’s database in a flash.

The pens have a tiny infrared camera and bluetooth technology which converts handwritten information into digital data.

They are also able to take pictures.

Ravgee was suspended and later resigned early last before disciplinary processes could be instituted against him .

UFH’s Lizo Piti confirmed the university had employed Ravgee as its newest CFO.

“After Robin Stone resigned, Percy Mafu was appointed in an acting capacity for a few months after which a consultant Mr Hollie Clarkson was appointed to act until the position was filled,” said Piti.

Piti said Ravgee has convinced the university council of his capacity in improving income streams.

“His longer term vision is to look at assisting to implement austerity measures, improving our investment strategy, improving third stream income and investigating other revenue generating options.”

He further stated that the new CFO was a Chartered Accountant with 20 years’ experience in financial management within the private and public sector.

Ravgee could not be contacted for comment at the time of writing. —