Thebe Mabanga
Irregular appointments and procurement practices are two of the biggest problems at the College of Cape Town, and addressing these will go a long way towards stabilising the institution.
This is according to Dr. Robert Nkuna, the recently appointed administrator for the institution, who spoke exclusively to Inside Education.
Nkuna was appointed by Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela for a period of two years.
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“Incorrect appointments and procurement practices are the biggest challenges facing the institution,” said Nkuna, adding that, in the case of appointments, he would have to review the institution’s operational structure and needs and, where appointments were irregular, correct or reverse these.
Part of Nkuna’s brief is to oversee the appointment of a new council and principal, as well as five vice-principals in areas including finance, human resources and information technology.
Since taking up the post a month ago, Nkuna has met all stakeholders, including all eight campus managers, labour through all four trade unions — the National Professional Teachers’ Organisation of South Africa (NAPTOSA), the South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (Sadtu), the Public Service Association (PSA) and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) — as well as the Student Representative Council (SRC).
Nkuna said one of the key outcomes of the engagements has been unanimous support by all unions for him to implement the forensic investigation commissioned by Manamela.
On procurement practices, Nkuna said: “Emergency procurement is the most abused practice in the public sector”.
He said he intended to review and overhaul procurement systems at the college and make decisions such as whether to centralise procurement and streamline bid evaluation committees to service all campuses.
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Nkuna said he viewed his role as administrator as more than addressing governance challenges. He would like the institution to address challenges including infrastructure, which is uneven across campuses based on location, with historically disadvantaged areas such as Gugulethu and Athlone having relatively poor infrastructure, he said.
Gugulethu has had a new building unveiled, but Nkuna said more was required.
He said he would also oversee a review of the college’s content and the programmes it offers.
