Sunday Times reports that sources revealed that Unisa’s vice-chancellor Prof Puleng Lenkabula told the senate meeting she was being portrayed as “a slay queen” and “a devil with horns and a fork”.
This is after TimesLIVE reported that she is being investigated for her luxurious lifestyle after the institution reportedly splashed out more than R285 000 on sheer curtains for her official residence and R8000 for training on how to use a vacuum cleaner.
It is alleged she also bought a Mercedes Benz, which costs nearly R2 million, while IOL reported that she spent R600 000 for flooring.
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VICE CHANCELLOR FIGHTS BACK
Sunday Times adds that the vice-chancellor Prof Puleng Lenkabula held meetings this week to compile a response to the critical report by independent assessor, Prof Themba Mosia, who was appointed by higher education minister Blade Nzimande to investigate Unisa.
The publication adds that Unisa’s top management battled to compile a response to the damning findings of an independent assessor, who accused LenkaBula of failing to take responsibility for the disappointment at the university.
“LenkaBula tabled the report, by University of Pretoria professor Themba Mosia, at a Unisa senate meeting this week and also convened meetings with members of her management and extended management committees,”
Professor Mosia previously revealed: “The university paid R285,228 for the procurement of curtains. I was surprised to find sheer curtains,” said Mosia in his 300 page report.
FINDINGS IN MOSIA’S REPORT:
- Sheer Curtains: R285 228
- Vacuum Cleaner Training: R8000
- Painting items: R220 685
- Mercedes Benz GLE 400d: R1.9 million on a budget R1.2 million budget
“She asserts that her only input was that she preferred a 4X4 vehicle as she is also visiting the regions. I was informed that all previous VCs used the Mercedes-Benz E class and were also visiting regions,” added Mosia.
IOL also reports that the VC splurged more than R3 million on her residence’s upgrade, while only R1 million upgrade was approved.
MORE FINDINGS:
- Air conditioning: R74 000
- Borehole: R49 000
- Glass Gas Hob: R19 000
- Mattress Protector: R3000
Mosia’s also reported that Lenkabula demanded an extra staff component of nine people for her office, including a chef, the head of social media, and several assistants. The new bloated team would approximately cost the university R14 million.
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‘CULTURE OF FEAR AT UNISA’
The Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande gave Unisa’s council 14 days to respond to Mosia’s 308-page report in a letter to the chair of Unisa’s council, James Maboa on 12 May.
Mosia added: “a cauldron of instability characterised by a culture of fear, intimidation and bullying, instances of maladministration, financial irregularities, human resources’ failures and questionable management and council decisions”.
“There is a tendency on the part of the vice-chancellor to blame subordinates for governance failures rather than taking responsibility herself as an ethical leader should be doing.”
Sources informed the publication that LenkaBula asked those at the senate meeting to offer responses to Mosia’s report and one professor revealed that the council could take the report on review, depending on the responses from Unisa.
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