UJ top managers to face criminal prosecution
TWO senior managers at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) accused of siphoning off millions from the university and allegedly channelling the monies into their private business now face criminal prosecution.
UJ chairperson of council Professor Roy Marcus and deputy vice-chancellor of finance Jaco van Schoor will also have to repay about R30m to the university, Independent Media can reveal.
The impending actions are part of the recommendations of a draft report of a forensic investigation into the alleged fraud involving the pair, which was presented to the university’s special council meeting on Friday.
The Sunday Independent reported in July that the two were suspended with pay after it emerged that they had allegedly swindled the university out of about R25m.
The amount has since increased to about R30m.
A whistle-blower lifted the lid on the alleged fraud, prompting UJ to launch a twopronged probe, an internal and external forensic investigation. Auditing firm Sizwentsaluba Gobodo was commissioned to conduct the forensic probe.
At the centre of the allegations was that Marcus and Van Schoor used UJ companies to personally benefit from some contracts for the installation of solar geysers.
The geysers were meant to be installed on university premises and residences, and PTIP Innovations, one of the Uj-owned firms, was among those tasked with the job. Marcus and Van Schoor allegedly abused their executive powers by channelling some of the funds from the project into Innovative Investment Corporation (IIC), a Sandton-based company they hold shares in. The pair, who are listed among the firm’s only four directors, had apparently not declared their stake in the firm to the university.
They will now have to answer before the courts after the investigation found a prima facie case against them.
“The report is damning as it found sufficient evidence that they defrauded and misled the university,” said a source who has seen the report. Approached for comment, Marcus said he had not seen the report and was awaiting information from the university to furnish details. “I have given my full cooperation in the investigation and made detailed oral and written submissions to the forensic auditors, Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo (SNG). I have twice asked them to give me an opportunity to respond to anything that may seem to contradict what I have told them,” he said. Van Schoor said: “It would be inappropriate for me to answer on issues and/or allegations which have as yet not been formally placed before me. As yet, I am awaiting the detail issues, whereafter I will be in a position to formally respond should it be necessary or appropriate. As a consequence I cannot at this point in time comment (on) the merits of the matter or any allegations made”.
Correspondence circulated to UJ staff and students also indicated that the draft report into the allegations were damning as it found that “there may have been some irregularities within its (university) commercialisation domain.
“Having considered the draft report, council concluded that the actions of the chair of council Professor Roy Marcus and the deputy vice-chancellor: finance, Mr Jaco van Schoor, may have contravened certain legal provisions, ethical obligations, or both,” reads part of the statement.