Shock as WSU’s new finance boss suddenly suspended

Walter Sisulu University has put its chief financial officer on precautionary suspension, just about a year and a half into her five-year contract.

The Daily Dispatch has learnt that Brigid Mosola was placed on precautionary suspension last week after an alleged fallout with recently appointed vice-chancellor Rob Midgley over administrative matters, which included the appointment of senior executive managers.

WSU spokeswoman Yonela Tukwayo confirmed yesterday that Mosola had been placed on precautionary suspension on Wednesday.

“Ms Mosola has been placed under precautionary suspension for insubordination, failure to follow various instructions and failure to follow supply chain management processes,” Tukwayo said.

She would neither confirm nor deny whether Mosola was suspended following a fallout with Midgley.

However, she said the instructions could be from Midgley or the university council, Mosola’s senior managers.

The spokeswoman said a date for Mosola’s disciplinary hearing had not yet been set pending the completion of an investigation.

Mosola was employed in December, 2014.

Her responsibilities included:

lShowing strategic leadership of the finance department;

lPreparing financial statements for management, council and auditors;

lPerforming financial planning, forecasting and budgeting;

lManagement of funds, procurement and fixed assets; and

lProducing financial reports.

WSU’s Buffalo City campus branch National Education Health and Allied Worker’s Union leader Luvo Skenjana said: “We are shocked to learn about this.”

WSU National Tertiary Education Union chairman Professor Bandile Nakani declined to comment, saying he was not aware of any communication relating to the matter.