Question NW1181 to the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
19 April 2023 - NW1181
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
In light of the R80 million defrauding scam pertaining to student accommodation by (a) officials and (b) former leadership of the student representative council of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, what measures has he put in place to combat corrupt practices among tertiary officials?
Reply:
The Department supports investigations into corrupt practices taking place at universities, including at the University of KwaZulu Natal. Law enforcement agencies are currently seized with the investigations, once they have concluded their investigations, I will ask for an official report. The Department further welcomes the courage of the whistle-blowers who have exposed corruption, and its officials will continue to monitor all accommodation related reports. The Department has been advised by the university that it has established a hotline to encourage more reporting on an anonymous basis.
In addition, the Department will continue working with the heads of Safety and Security in all our universities, and ensure they receive the support to assist with reporting and monitoring crime at our universities. A future workshop is planned to, amongst others, better understand the challenges around accommodation within universities, and what additional support the universities require to ensure that accommodation management is transparent and devoid of corruption.