For nearly two years now the staff and students at Cape Peninsula University of Technology have been kept in the dark with regard to the tenure of CPUTs vice chancellor and the financial operations of the institution.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, THIS INSTITUTION HAS 33-THOUSAND STUDENTS, IT GETS A SUBSIDY FROM THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
There are not that many staff members at CPUT, but there are hundreds of thousands of taxpayers in this country who need answers on the running of this government-subsidized institution:
As a CPUT staff member AND taxpayer in this country who has been subsidizing this institution for many decades, I want to know:
Why has the CPUT staff and students and the taxpayers of this country not been informed about changes in the contract or tenure of the head of this instittion of 33-thousand people, Professor Lineo Vuysia Mazwi-Tanga.
Today, there is not a single staff member at CPUT who knows the exact details of Tanga’s tenure or extension of her contract. The union executive members at CPUT most probably know the answers. But these unions have not imparted their knowledge to staff. We (3 unions) pay membership fees. We have been told NOTHING OFFICIALLY ABOUT THE TENURE OF THE HEAD OF THIS ORGANISATION FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TWO YEARS.
MORE IMPORTANTLY::: THE COUNCIL OF THIS INSTITUTION HAS NOT GIVEN ANY DETAILS OR ANY STATEMENTS TO STAFF OR THE MEDIA ABOUT THE TENURE OF PROFESSOR TANGA. YET, WE ARE ENTERTAINED BY RUMOURS OF TENDER IRREGULARITIES, GOLDEN HANDSHAKES AND THREATS OF LEGAL ACTION OVER THE POSITIONS OF SENIOR MANAGEMENT AT CPUT.
The stories about NUM/Management collusion at Marikana mine refers: Are the union executive members at CPUT, the council members and the SRC receiving some kind of pay-off for not asking critical questions? Why are they not asking critical questions and why do we as staff, students, taxpayers etc not informed of the situation regarding the management of the BIGGEST EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IN THE WESTERN CAPE, AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN THE COUNTRY.
Why does this organisation, subsidized by taxpayers money regard it as unnecessary to inform staff and students of the developments around the position of vice chancellor?
Earlier, somebody on MyNews24 referred to the minister of finance asking for everybody to stand together in fighting corruption. How are ordinary people supposed to do this? How are ordinary people like CPUT staff and the few million taxpayers in South Africa supposed to stand together against corruption when an orginasation such as CPUT – including the 3 unions, the SRC and the media in this province - does not bother to ask probing questions and get CLEAR ANSWERS on the affairs of this institution of higher education?
Apart from News24’s blogs: Is there not a single newspaper in this country, including Media24’s investigation team, the Sunday Times, The Sowetan, City Press, The Mail and Guardian, the Beeld, Burger and Volksblad, the Cape Argus, the Cape Times, The Voice, Die Son, Noseweek etc who is prepared to answer just a few simple questions on behalf of the CPUT community and the taxpayers of South Africa:
1. What was the original tenure of the Vice Chancellor of the merged institution CPUT at the start of 2006. What was the tenure of the advertisement in this regard?
2. When did this contractual agreement change and why?
3. What was the finalisation date for the merger of CPUT?
4. What were the original details of the Moerane commission of inquiry’s reports on student unrest and dissatisfaction etc at CPUT? Why was the publication of this report delayed? What were the final details?
5. Are the rumours among CPUT staff members and on MyNews24 of tender irregularities at CPUT true? If these rumours are categorically untrue:::: why doesn’t the CPUT council deny this?
6. Why was the HR head, Mr Charles Gilbert, been paid for his silence? This is not a speculative question but a fact confirmed by several reputable sources in and outside of CPUT.
7. What were the terms of the sudden departure of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Operations: Jay Bhana at the end of June 2012.
8. Did Bhana divert money to other people or NOT?
9. Did Tanga divert money to others than approved tenders or NOT?
8. On which grounds and experience were the new Exeutive Director: Operations, Sinethemba Mpambane appointed – This is a 31 year old young man with good academic qualifications but little experience required for the job for this specific position , i.e relocating and moving 9 physical campuses which were supposed to be completed in 2011, yet, despite the expertise and experience of old men very little has been done. Mpambane is alledgedly a family member of The vice chancellor – Is this true or NOT?
9. What was the original final date for the completion of the merger of the different campuses of Cape Peninsula University of Technology – an organisation which merged more than 7 years ago? What are the new dates and what has caused the delays?
10. How many hundreds of millions if not billions of South African taxpayer’s money have gone into merger costs of CPUT alone and how much of these targets were not achieved?
11. Which persons, by name is responsible for the delays in the merger of Cape Peninsula University of Technology?
12. WHY DO STAFF, STUDENTS AND TAXPAYERS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE TENURE OF THE VICE CHANCELLOR OF CPUT DESPITE SEVERAL EFFORTS OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS FROM DIFFERENT QUARTERS TO ESTABLISH THE TRUTH.
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