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STAFF REPORTER
THE University of Fort Hare (UFH) has welcomed a breakthrough in the fight against corruption spearheaded by the institution and South African law enforcement agencies to uproot deep-seated corruption and criminal networks that have bled the institution dry for several decades.
The National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit announced it obtained a provisional restraint order against the property of Walter Qusheka, as well as five other defendants, including Qusheka’s wife. Qusheka is the Director of Garden to Floors, a company that traded under the name of Qush with the University.
The current value of the assets under restraint is R14.3 million, and Judge N Jali granted the restraint order against the property. Qush had a contract with the University, which expired at the end of its determined period in 2015.
But a former UFH Contracts Manager, Thobile George, had no lawful authority to contract on behalf of the University and renewed the contract on a month-to-month basis, resulting in a loss of R19.2 million for the University.
Evidence in possession of the University and provided to law enforcement agencies showed that George received kick-back payments of R4 million. Qush paid funds into an account where George sat as a company director after he illegally extended the contract. The original contract with Qush was signed in 2011. The NPA’s Asset Forfeiture Unit has indicated in a statement that George, Walter and Vuyokazi Qusheka, Yolisa Songca, Lungelwa Finwana, and Yandiswa Sonamzi face criminal charges of fraud and corruption, and their matter was postponed until 4 August for a trial date.
However, at the weekend, in a matter related to academic fraud, it emerged that the University of Fort Hare convocation believes the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) does not have the necessary skills, knowledge, and expertise to investigate allegations at the institution.
The convocation instead wants the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation to appoint a ministerial team to probe the alleged degree scam at the 107-year-old institution.
It is currently scrutinising four tenders involving cleaning and gardening services, the leasing of student accommodation tender, the appointment of a service provider for the maintenance and repair of air conditioning systems, and collusion between officials of UFH and service providers, in which such officials held direct or indirect interests.
Convocation president advocate Andile Mini, at a press briefing in East London on Friday, said he has written to Higher Education Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande, requesting him to launch an independent investigation into the academic scam.
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