Unisa says ‘not fighting Nzimande’ amid administration saga
The University of South Africa says it is not fighting Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande but merely exercising its responsibility to prevent any unnecessary disruption of its mandate.
This comes after the High Court in Pretoria ordered Nzimande to rescind his decision to place the Unisa under administration on Wednesday.
The university filed an urgent application to interdict the minister's decision.
The court found that the decision to appoint an administrator for Unisa was in breach of previous court orders and unlawful.
Governance at the country’s oldest university has been in the spotlight over the past few months amid claims of maladministration and tender fraud.
An independent report commissioned by the Department of Higher Education recommended the institution be placed under administration.
Nzimande recently appointed Professor Ihron Rensburg as the administrator after dissolving the council of the university.
Unisa spokesperson Nolwazi Mwabi said they are merely preventing disruption at the institution.
"The university believes that this court decision is sound and correct, given that the matter pertaining to the review of the Independent Assessor Report is still before the court and yet to be concluded.
"Management also re-emphasises the point that it is not fighting the Minister but merely exercising its responsibility towards the institution, its stakeholders and the public at large by preventing an unnecessary disruption of the execution of its missional mandate."
Nzimande's office says the Minister is studying the judgement and will decide on the next legal route to take.
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