NTEU, long time opposers to the brazen corruption culture emulated by Tswane University of Technology (TUT) management, is encouraged by Parliament’s response after council failed to appear before them on Tuesday.
“Parliament is not turning a blind eye. This is a good thing. This is the kind of governance our country needs right now.”, said NTEU National President, Dimakatso Peo.
The TUT council was called to appear before Parliament after allegations of corruption, maladministration, nepotism and serious abuse of power were received from various stakeholders.
A summons will be issued for council to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education next Wednesday.
During the committee's investigation the NTEU urges parliament to also cast its net over Tshwane University of Technology Enterprise Holdings (TUTEH). Poor building infrastructures at all TUT campuses and money channeled to TUTEH without the necessary approval adds to the major concerns of maladministration and corruption at the university.
Portfolio committee chairperson, Philly Mapulane, made it clear that council was not above scrutiny and sympathised with those who had to deal with this behaviour on campus. He stated that their failure to appear after receiving due notice “essentially amounts to giving Parliament the middle finger".
NTEU is sickened, yet unsurprised, by council’s blatant disregard for the powers of Parliament and fully supports calls for the university to be placed under administration.
“It is a beast that we’ve come to know well", said Peo, “but we trust that Parliament will take the task of taming them seriously.”.
NTEU is a politically non-aligned trade union organizing exclusively in the Higher Education sector and is aligned to FEDUSA, the largest politically non-aligned trade union federation in South Africa.