Question NW2866 to the Minister of Higher Education and Training

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02 October 2017 - NW2866

Profile picture: Bucwa, Ms H

Bucwa, Ms H to ask the Minister of Higher Education and Training

(1)With reference to his reply to question 165 on 7 March 2017 and the reported statement allegedly made by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zululand that the specified university did not suffer any damages related to the Fees Must Fall protests (details furnished), (a) why did the university receive R4.5 million in funding to cover damages as stated in the specified reply, (b) why was this funding not reflected in the university’s annual report for 2015-16 and (c) will the funding be returned to his department to assist universities who did experience damages; (2) (a) has he found that there was damage that required repairs at the university, (b) on what date did the damage occur, (c) how was the R4.5 million spent and (d) why was this damage not reported by the university?

Reply:

(1) (a) The University of Zululand (UniZulu) received R4.5 million in funding to cover damages reported to the West Dining Hall and East Recreation Centre that occurred during the late 2015 and early 2016 protest action.

(b) The Department is of the view that the funding would not have been reflected in the university’s annual report for 2015-16, as the university only received the funds in March 2016. The financials of the university is based on the 2015 academic year ending on 31 December 2015.

(c) It will not be necessary for UniZulu to return the funding to the Department as the amount was made available from funds specifically earmarked to assist historically disadvantaged institutions, and there was no requirement from the Department that it be specifically accounted against the identified projects.

(2) (a) UniZulu informed the Department of the damages in response to a request from the Department for universities to report damages that had occurred during the 2015 protest action.

(b) The university reported that the damage occurred during the late 2015 and early 2016 protest action.

(c) The R4.5 million was requested to repair damages to the West Dining Hall and East Recreation Centre.

(d) The damage was reported to the Department by the university.

COMPILER/CONTACT PERSONS:

EXT:

DIRECTOR – GENERAL

STATUS:

DATE:

QUESTION 2866 APPROVED/NOT APPROVED/AMENDED

Dr BE NZIMANDE, MP

MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

STATUS:

DATE:

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