University of South Africa (Unisa) registrar Prof Steward Mothata has hit back at Prof Puleng LenkaBula, who fired him this week with immediate effect.
“First, she has no powers to suspend or dismiss me. This was her intention all along,” he told TimesLIVE Premium.
“She has a lot to answer for. Unisa is on its knees because of her.”
Mothata said LenkaBula has shown “the so-called council that she is a law unto herself”.
“They can’t hold her accountable. This council failed Unisa big time.”
Neither Unisa nor the council has responded to Mothata’s comments.
His dismissal came in the wake of independent assessor Prof Themba Mosia’s damning report into the institution's affairs. It recommended Unisa be placed under administration and council and management members be relieved of their duties.
LenkaBula placed Mothata on precautionary suspension on June 5 for allegedly breaching confidentiality, gross abuse of office, gross dishonesty, gross insubordination and “giving and making false or damaging statements in the execution of his duties and/or in public”.
He was also accused of “sabotaging the academic project and/or the business of the university” and “dereliction of duty” by failing to advise the council and its committees, as well as LenkaBula, on governance matters and possible related risks.
LenkaBula told Mothata he had failed to respond to Unisa's letter since the suspension and that the institution considered his conduct “exceedingly unfortunate and regrettable for a senior executive in your position”.
“Not only have you shown serious contempt for authority and policies of the university, but it seems to escape your mind that you are facing serious allegations of contravening the university policies and regulations.”
She said it was clear the relationship of trust between him and the university has irretrievably broken.
She requested Mothata, in her letter, to return all Unisa property within 24 hours and that “failure to do so would mean that you possess university property illegally”.
Mothata’s dismissal follows his June 20 application to the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to declare that Unisa’s council is no longer “properly constituted” after the resignation of several members. Mothata’s court application will be made on July 11.
In his founding affidavit, Mothata said “the situation at Unisa has deteriorated to a point that it negatively impacts on the public interest”.
He said he made council aware on June 5 that it was no longer properly constituted.
“The council rejected my guidance. It is abundantly clear that my suspension was as a result of my advice to council.”
He said Mosia’s report found Unisa “is characterised by an environment of fear, bullying and intimidation”, adding: “My suspension is the clearest example of what the independent assessor found.”
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