Petition to get rid of UFH’s Tom
ANC-aligned organisations calling for his head
A GROUP of ANC-aligned organisations are pushing a petition for a mass clearout of the top leadership at the University of Fort Hare (UFH).
It follows a treacherous year for the beleaguered university amid allegations of bankruptcy and use of student financial aid scheme money to pay salaries and a plot by the institution’s registrar to sabotage the opposition’s student wing.
The call for change also comes hot on the heels of the #FeesMustFall protests, which resulted in nearly R1million worth of damage at its East London and Alice campuses.
A copy of a petition demanding Tom’s removal was handed to university council member Themba Lupulwana by the National Education, Health and Allied Worker’s Union (Nehawu) and the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA).
The PYA is made up by the South African Student Congress (Sasco), the Young Communist League (YCL) and ANC Youth League (ANCYL).
In the petition, Nehawu and PYA, who claim the Nkonkobe community backs them, demanded that UFH’s top senior managers be removed.
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Minister Blade Nzimande may also be asked to intervene as he did at Walter Sisulu University when an administrator was appointed in 2011.
However, Nzimande may only get involved if the university council, headed by Thandi Orleyn, fails to act in favour of the ANC-aligned group at a council meeting scheduled later this month. Nehawu regional secretary Siyabonga Kobese said if their demands were not met they would approach Nzimande.
Asked for his comment late yesterday, Tom said: “As the management, we are going to do our work and try to improve the situation of the university. The council will deal with this matter at the ordinary council meeting next week.”
Tom declined to comment further, saying he would wait for the council’s decision.
UFH spokeswoman Zintle Filtane said: “The matter is being handled by council and the council will only meet on November 27 to discuss the petition. It is only then that council can answer the questions posed.”
DHET spokesman Khanye Nkwanyana said only council and the university community could decide to remove Tom.
Nehawu said it had analysed the institution’s leadership and state of finances and was concerned about the lack of a strategy and plan for the centenary celebrations next year.
Part of the complaint against Tom and his management stems from a scathing KPMG report, which revealed mismanagement including:
● A deficit amounting to R120-million; and
● Manipulation of supply chain management processes through bid committees to suit the choice of certain individuals.
Attempts to get a comment from Orleyn and her deputy Ayanda Mjekula were unsuccessful at the time of writing.
ANCYL UFH branch chairman Lwazi Rotya said they supported the workers.
“There is a plethora of issues relating to maladministration, finance and outsourcing of services that we feel should have been addressed a long time ago.”
YCL UFH branch secretary Luxolo Nqala said they supported the resolution made by Nehawu.
“We do support their motion of no confidence because the issues they are raising affect us.”
Sasco UFH branch chairman Mosuli Cwele said the organisation would consult members.
“As leadership of Sasco we need to get a mandate from our members,” Cwele said.
“We need to understand if there are no any other agendas first.” —