Via Orapeleng Matshediso Orapeleng, Student Leader at the North West University. PRESS RELEASE: APPOINTMENT PROCESS OF NEW NWU VICE-CHANCELLOR The Higher Education Transformation Network (HETN), acting on behalf of its alumni membership, hereby records its dismay at the current developments at the institution with regards to the process towards the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the North-West University (NWU). We are utterly dismayed by credible reports from our members that there are alleged machinations within the university management ranks to install outgoing NWU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Theuns Elloff as part of the interview panelists who would be interviewing the candidates for the new Vice-Chancellor (VC) post. We strongly condemn this alleged attempt by the NWU to undermine proper corporate governance principles in the strongest terms as we believe that this an indication that the outgoing Vice-Chancellor allegedly wishes to influence the decision of the interview panel to appoint a new proxy who will continue the same policy legacy and ultimately ensure that the status quo is maintained. We are further dismayed by the arrogant and public declaration of candidacy by Prof Dan Kgwadi, Rector: NWU Mafikeng Campus during the Central Student Representative Council (CSRC) inauguration last week. We have further noted with dismay that the Institutional Forum (IF) of the NWU has successfully convened last week to discuss amongst others, its role in as far as the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor is concerned. It is disconcerting that members of the NWU management arrogantly continue to advocate for an exclusive recruitment process that would render the institution’s IF forum and the inputs of stakeholders to mere spectatorial roles. We wish to reiterate our official stance that the current institutional management team comprising of the three Campus Rectors (including Prof. Dan Kgwadi) who have been serving under the current Vice-Chancellor should not be considered for appointment as they will simply, if appointed, perpetuate the status quo due to sycophancy and poor leadership. We support the stance of NEHAWU and the CSRC of NWU Mafikeng Campus that new blood and ideas are required at the institution. It is the view of the HETN that that the person who should occupy the Vice-Chancellor role should come from outside the institution because the institution needs fresh minds that will facilitate and fast-track the processes of transformation, advance the objective of the institutional merger and save the NWU from groupthink and the morass of institutional racism. The Vice-Chancellorship role needs a person who has a clear understanding of the higher education landscape and its challenges, has the ability to embrace change, will respect the autonomy of the SRC, respect worker unions, will ensure equal representation by all campuses, will not be hoodwinked by racist political entities and who will end the domination by the former Potchefstroom University. We call on the NWU to withdraw all 13 unfounded charges against the student leadership of the NWU Vaal Campus as well as our member, Mr Orapeleng Matshediso, former president of the NWU ISRC as his term of office has come to an end. The continuation of disciplinary hearings against Mr Matshediso is an indication of continued victimization not only against students but against the HETN. We call on all students’ formations, workers unions, progressive members of the community and all stakeholders to unite beyond their differences and ensure that a progressive Vice-Chancellor is appointed to ensure that the university plays a critical role within the developmental agenda and nation building to build the kind of the society that is envisaged by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
Posted on: Mon, 16 Sep 2013 06:18:05 +0000
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