MUT top officials placed on special leave
While there's been violence at some institutions of higher education in the country, tensions of a different kind are brewing at Durban's Mangosuthu University of Technology.
Six executive members, including the Vice Chancellor there, have been placed on special leave.
Chairperson of the Council, Jerome Ngwenya says the action comes as an investigation is underway into maladministration at the university.
But an anonymous letter addressed to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande claims there are personal vendettas at play and that Vice Chancellor Professor Ratale Kgapola was particularly moved out of the way so that certain individuals can influence university tenders.
The author of the letter also alleges the decision to place the six on special leave was taken without Council's approval but Ngwenya says there's nothing unusual about that.
"That's the role of Exco and council has seated Exco-made decisions which would otherwise be made by council," he said.
Higher Education's Khaye Nkwanyane says the Minister will meet with Council soon.
"The Vice Chancellor is an employee of the Council but the Minister representing the government will always be close to that situation in terms of seeking a solution because the result of that may be destabilisation of the academic programme which therefore affects government," he said.
(File photo)