WALTER Sisulu University is finalising its list of council members to be revealed on Friday, with 11 of 21 positions already filled.
The council was disbanded in 2011 when Professor Lourens van Staden took over as administrator after being appointed by Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Minister Blade Nzimande to turn the ailing university’s fortunes around.
Van Staden’s term comes to an end this month.
Although the university announced in February that Professor Khaya Mfenyana had been appointed as WSU’s interim vice-chancellor for a period of 12 months until a new vice-chancellor is announced, one of the first duties of the new council will be to appoint a chancellor for a four-year period.
It was confirmed by Van Staden yesterday that two internal candidates, Professor Bandile Nakani and Siyabulela Tshangela, were elected to the council on March 19.
Nakani is to hold the position of non-senate academic employee, while Tshangela is to be a non-academic employee.
The names of nine other officials already elected, all external appointments, have been withheld and will be released with the finalised list on Friday.
Council positions include five members to be appointed by Nzimande, a vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, two members to be elected by the senate, two members to be elected by the student’s representative council (SRC), two members to be elected by the convocation, two experts in commerce and industry, two experts from the donor community, one expert in law and another in finance and investment.
A workshop for the newly elected council members will be held in Chintsa East today and tomorrow.
The induction of the council is expected to be held on Friday.
“Sixty percent of council members will be outsiders,” Van Staden said.
This was in line with the university statute, a blueprint document approved by Nzimande earlier this year.
Student leaders who spoke to the newspaper said they had yet to be involved in the election of council candidates.
Pan Africanist Students’ Movement of Azania national organiser Ndiyakholwa Ngqulu said: “As far as I am aware student leadership has been excluded in this matter. I will make a comment tomorrow when I am informed of who has been elected.”
South African Students’ Congress provincial secretary Yanga Zicina would not comment, although he indicated he had no knowledge of the council elections.
WSU spokeswoman Angela Church said students would be involved when electing two representatives from the SRC. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
WSU set to unveil new council
The council was disbanded in 2011 when Professor Lourens van Staden took over as administrator after being appointed by Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Minister Blade Nzimande to turn the ailing university’s fortunes around.
Van Staden’s term comes to an end this month.
Although the university announced in February that Professor Khaya Mfenyana had been appointed as WSU’s interim vice-chancellor for a period of 12 months until a new vice-chancellor is announced, one of the first duties of the new council will be to appoint a chancellor for a four-year period.
It was confirmed by Van Staden yesterday that two internal candidates, Professor Bandile Nakani and Siyabulela Tshangela, were elected to the council on March 19.
Nakani is to hold the position of non-senate academic employee, while Tshangela is to be a non-academic employee.
The names of nine other officials already elected, all external appointments, have been withheld and will be released with the finalised list on Friday.
Council positions include five members to be appointed by Nzimande, a vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor, two members to be elected by the senate, two members to be elected by the student’s representative council (SRC), two members to be elected by the convocation, two experts in commerce and industry, two experts from the donor community, one expert in law and another in finance and investment.
A workshop for the newly elected council members will be held in Chintsa East today and tomorrow.
The induction of the council is expected to be held on Friday.
“Sixty percent of council members will be outsiders,” Van Staden said.
This was in line with the university statute, a blueprint document approved by Nzimande earlier this year.
Student leaders who spoke to the newspaper said they had yet to be involved in the election of council candidates.
Pan Africanist Students’ Movement of Azania national organiser Ndiyakholwa Ngqulu said: “As far as I am aware student leadership has been excluded in this matter. I will make a comment tomorrow when I am informed of who has been elected.”
South African Students’ Congress provincial secretary Yanga Zicina would not comment, although he indicated he had no knowledge of the council elections.
WSU spokeswoman Angela Church said students would be involved when electing two representatives from the SRC. — msindisif@dispatch.co.za
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