The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has called for the both prioritisation of transformation at the North West University (NWU) as well as the institution’s move from a federal system to being unitary.
The Committee has also called for the immediate ceasing of all student initiation practises and the implementation of stricter measures to curb alleged incidents of racism on all campuses.
These follows the Committee’s meeting with the NWU Council and Management – as well as other stakeholders – in Potchefstroom on Tuesday, 23 September 2014. Committee Chairperson Mrs Yvonne Phosa stated that transformation had to be implemented as per the White Paper for Post-School Education and Training.
“As a country, we are on a transformation journey. The White Paper talks about the transformation of the sector and how all of us should rally behind this,” she said.
Ms Phosa did not mince her words when she stated that the Committee was against the NWU’s federal system.
“We must be honest enough to admit that the federal model of management hasn’t been in the best interests of the country. If we don’t support a move away from a federal system to a unitary university it will be a recipe for disaster,” she said.
The NWU has three campuses in Potchefstroom, Mafikeng and Vaal. Ms Phosa further made it clear that the initiation practices – which resulted in the unfortunate passing away of student Thabang Makhoang in 2012 – had to be stopped with immediate effect.
“It is clear that there’s still a recurrence of initiation practices and the Portfolio Committee cannot accept the fact that policies are in place but incidents still take place. The recurrence nullifies the existence of those policies or makes us doubt them.”
The Committee felt there was a need for the culture of the university to be changed and for leadership will to drive the move towards an institution characterised by social cohesion, upholding of human rights and harmony.
Both the acting Chairperson of the Council, Mr Fika van Rensburg, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof Dan Kgwadi, assured the Committee that there were measures in place to deal with the issues raised by MPs.
Other stakeholders who were part of the meeting included the Institutional Forum, the Institutional SRC and representatives of organised labour.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Elijah Moholola
Cell: 083 981 7770
Tell: 021 403 2311
Email: emoholola@parliament.gov.za
