Mevrou die Adjunkspeaker, die meerderheid van ons 23 universiteite funksioneer nie na behore nie. Bestuursprobleme by hierdie instansies haal gereeld koerantopskrifte, soos tans die geval is met die Tswane Universiteit van Tegnologie.
Daar is die afgelope tyd berig dat dosente, studente en ouers ongelukkig is oor verskeie administratiewe gebreke by di universiteit. Daar word selfs met regstappe gedreig. Die belangrikste van alles is dat die universiteitsraad vanmiddag vergader om 'n nuwe rektor te kies. Die gunsteling onder die drie kandidate is die huidige waarnemende rektor, Prof Johnny Molefe. Hy is om verskeie redes nie geskik om die pos van rektor te beklee nie.
Daar word, eerstens, van 'n kandidaat verwag om oor 'n doktersgraad te beskik. Prof Molefe se curriculum vitae is verdag. Hy beskik nie oor 'n geldige doktersgraad nie. Die Suid-Afrikaanse Kwalifikasie-owerheid, Sako, het onlangs die aanvanklike wettiging van sy doktersgraad ongeldig verklaar, omdat daar vasgestel is dat dit onwettig bekom is deur 'n Sako amptenaar om te koop.
Daar word ook van 'n rektor verwag om toe te sien dat sy universiteit finansieel-verantwoordelik bestuur word. Prof Molefe se eie geldsake is in wanorde. Sy naam verskyn as slegte skuldenaar in die rekords van Kredietburos. Daar is in 2009 'n verstekvonnis van R1,7 miljoen deur die hooggeregshof teen hom toegestaan. 'n Opsporingsmaatskappy is aangestel om hom vir slegte skuld op te spoor. Hy het ook aansoek gedoen vir skuldberading.
Ek verwag dat die Minister van Hor Onderwys en Opleiding vandag nog sal ingryp om te verhoed dat Prof Molefe aangestel word. [Applous.] (Translation of Afrikaans member's statement follows.)
[Dr J C KLOPPERS-LOURENS (DA): Madam Deputy Speaker, the majority of our 23 universities are not functioning properly. Management problems at these institutions regularly make newspaper headlines, a case in point currently being the Tshwane University of Technology.
Recent reports show that lecturers, students and parents are unhappy about various administrative shortcomings at the university. There are even threats of legal action being taken. Most importantly, the university council will be meeting this afternoon to elect a new rector. The favourite among the three candidates is the current acting rector, Prof Johnny Molefe. There are various reasons why he is not suitable to fill the post as rector.
Firstly, it is expected of a candidate to have obtained a doctorate. Prof Molefe's curriculum vitae is questionable. He does not have a valid doctorate. The South African Qualifications Authority, SAQA, recently invalidated the initial legitimation of his doctorate, because it was established that it was obtained illegally by bribing a SAQA official.
It is also expected of rectors to ensure that their universities have sound financial management. Prof Molefe's personal financial affairs are in disarray. His name appears on the records of Credit Bureaus as a bad debtor. In 2009 the Supreme Court granted a default judgment of R1,7 million against him. A debt collection company was employed to track him down for bad debt. He also applied for debt counselling.
I expect that the Minister of Higher Education and Training will intervene this very day to prevent Prof Molefe from being appointed as the new rector. [Applause.]]