A deadlock between students, unions and academics over the recruitment of the new vice-chancellor of Walter Sisulu University is behind a new six-month extension of the interim vice-chancellor’s contract.
Most of the interest groups refused to comment but Student Representative Council (SRC) president Misheck Mugabe said they were backing interim vice-chancellor Professor Khaya Mfenyana’s extended stay.
WSU acting acting spokesman Thando Cezula said: “The council process for recruitment and appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor and principal has not yet been concluded. Having noted this, the executive committee of council has extended the contract of Prof Mfenyana as the interim VC and principal until 31 January 2016.”
However, three sources told the Daily Dispatch that Mfenyana’s contract had been extended after a selection committee made up of academics, labour and students deadlocked on a preferred candidate out of four shortlisted.
The selection committee was formed after interviews which were screened across campuses.
WSU has 26000 students on campuses at Mthatha, Buffalo City, Queenstown and Butterworth.
The shortlisted candidates were WSU deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs and research Professor Sandile Songca, Vaal University of Technology deputy vice-chancellor for governance and organisational transformation Professor Gordon Zide, former Unisa registrar Mogege Mosimege, and the deputy vice-chancellor for teaching, learning and technology at Tshwane University of Technology, Dr Stanley Mukhola.
A source said: “The committee was compromised and divided in so much that it was thought it will be a good idea not to head-hunt but reopen the process again.”
The source said students favoured Zide and Mukhola, while the National Education, Health and Allied Worker’s Union (Nehawu) vied for Mosimege and the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) supported Songca.
“Zide did well during his presentation in April and is over-qualified. Same goes with Mukhola, who did well in interviews. Mosimege wasn’t convincing at all in interviews while Songca did not give the committee something new. He just told the committee what is known. I think it is because he is internal to WSU and academics (NTEU) were just being loyal to him because he appointed some of them.”
Another source said a decision had been taken to re-advertise the post in December, while another source said the unions were not the reason for the deadlock.
He said “other factors” were at play but would not say more.
Attempts to get comment from Nehawu were unsuccessful.
WSU NTEU chairman Bandile Nakani declined to comment and referred questions to WSU council chairman.
The university said it would respond to questions today.
Mugabe said: “Students raised concerns. They were unsatisfied that the previous selection committee could not appoint a candidate.”
Mugabe said students supported the call to re-advertise the post and to extend Mfenyana’s contractq. “As primary stakeholders we also use our own effective tools of analysis and in this case we looked at the options at our disposal.”
He said one option was to look for a new person to act as the interim VC and the second was to go for Mfenyana. “He is open and engageable. He believes in collective effort and associates himself with the struggles of students.”
Mugabe said that under Mfenyana’s leadership the university had increased its enrolment in Queenstown and he had also overseen the building of new residences in Mthatha and Buffalo City. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
WSU at war over top post
Most of the interest groups refused to comment but Student Representative Council (SRC) president Misheck Mugabe said they were backing interim vice-chancellor Professor Khaya Mfenyana’s extended stay.
WSU acting acting spokesman Thando Cezula said: “The council process for recruitment and appointment of a substantive vice-chancellor and principal has not yet been concluded. Having noted this, the executive committee of council has extended the contract of Prof Mfenyana as the interim VC and principal until 31 January 2016.”
However, three sources told the Daily Dispatch that Mfenyana’s contract had been extended after a selection committee made up of academics, labour and students deadlocked on a preferred candidate out of four shortlisted.
The selection committee was formed after interviews which were screened across campuses.
WSU has 26000 students on campuses at Mthatha, Buffalo City, Queenstown and Butterworth.
The shortlisted candidates were WSU deputy vice-chancellor for academic affairs and research Professor Sandile Songca, Vaal University of Technology deputy vice-chancellor for governance and organisational transformation Professor Gordon Zide, former Unisa registrar Mogege Mosimege, and the deputy vice-chancellor for teaching, learning and technology at Tshwane University of Technology, Dr Stanley Mukhola.
A source said: “The committee was compromised and divided in so much that it was thought it will be a good idea not to head-hunt but reopen the process again.”
The source said students favoured Zide and Mukhola, while the National Education, Health and Allied Worker’s Union (Nehawu) vied for Mosimege and the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) supported Songca.
“Zide did well during his presentation in April and is over-qualified. Same goes with Mukhola, who did well in interviews. Mosimege wasn’t convincing at all in interviews while Songca did not give the committee something new. He just told the committee what is known. I think it is because he is internal to WSU and academics (NTEU) were just being loyal to him because he appointed some of them.”
Another source said a decision had been taken to re-advertise the post in December, while another source said the unions were not the reason for the deadlock.
He said “other factors” were at play but would not say more.
Attempts to get comment from Nehawu were unsuccessful.
WSU NTEU chairman Bandile Nakani declined to comment and referred questions to WSU council chairman.
The university said it would respond to questions today.
Mugabe said: “Students raised concerns. They were unsatisfied that the previous selection committee could not appoint a candidate.”
Mugabe said students supported the call to re-advertise the post and to extend Mfenyana’s contractq. “As primary stakeholders we also use our own effective tools of analysis and in this case we looked at the options at our disposal.”
He said one option was to look for a new person to act as the interim VC and the second was to go for Mfenyana. “He is open and engageable. He believes in collective effort and associates himself with the struggles of students.”
Mugabe said that under Mfenyana’s leadership the university had increased its enrolment in Queenstown and he had also overseen the building of new residences in Mthatha and Buffalo City. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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