The University of Fort Hare’s (UFH) appearance before parliament’s higher education portfolio committee to shed light on allegations of bankruptcy and the illegal use of financial aid scheme money‚ has been postponed for a second time.
“The meeting was supposed to take place on September 23‚ but without any reason it has been moved again – with no new date provided‚” DA MP Yusuf Cassim said yesterday.
“The problems at UFH pertain to allegations of bankruptcy‚ the university’s R100-million deficit and the illegal use of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) money to pay staff salaries.
“Given these problems‚ combined with the threats of violence by university management‚ it is not unreasonable to call for the UFH to appear urgently before the committee to account for what is being done to address the problems.”
The Dispatch at the weekend exposed how UFH registrar Professor Mike Somniso allegedly spearheaded a plan to sabotage, frustrate and kick DA Students Organisation (Daso) students out of the university.
An audio clip was heard where he was speaking with the university’s director of corporate affairs Zintle Filtane, discussing this.
He is heard saying that “military veterans” were available to assist.
Yesterday, in affidavits seen by the Dispatch, he allegedly threatened to remove Daso students “one by one”. The Dispatch has been unable to reach Somniso.
Cassim said interventions sought by the DA from the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Mvuyo Tom and Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle had been ignored.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the ruling party was not involved in current squabbles at the university.
Cassim called for the chairwoman of the committee on higher education Yvonne Phosa to convene an urgent meeting of the committee and summon the university management and Somniso. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za with additional reporting by RDM News Wire
UFH meeting with higher education postponed again
“The meeting was supposed to take place on September 23‚ but without any reason it has been moved again – with no new date provided‚” DA MP Yusuf Cassim said yesterday.
“The problems at UFH pertain to allegations of bankruptcy‚ the university’s R100-million deficit and the illegal use of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) money to pay staff salaries.
“Given these problems‚ combined with the threats of violence by university management‚ it is not unreasonable to call for the UFH to appear urgently before the committee to account for what is being done to address the problems.”
The Dispatch at the weekend exposed how UFH registrar Professor Mike Somniso allegedly spearheaded a plan to sabotage, frustrate and kick DA Students Organisation (Daso) students out of the university.
An audio clip was heard where he was speaking with the university’s director of corporate affairs Zintle Filtane, discussing this.
He is heard saying that “military veterans” were available to assist.
Yesterday, in affidavits seen by the Dispatch, he allegedly threatened to remove Daso students “one by one”. The Dispatch has been unable to reach Somniso.
Cassim said interventions sought by the DA from the university’s vice-chancellor Dr Mvuyo Tom and Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle had been ignored.
ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the ruling party was not involved in current squabbles at the university.
Cassim called for the chairwoman of the committee on higher education Yvonne Phosa to convene an urgent meeting of the committee and summon the university management and Somniso. — bonganif@dispatch.co.za with additional reporting by RDM News Wire
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