By Thapelo Molefe
The chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Tebogo Letsie, has accused the University of Limpopo of deliberately spreading misinformation regarding its compliance with a parliamentary summons, saying this was “gravely concerning”.
According to a statement issued by the committee, the university falsely claimed it had submitted documents requested by Parliament.
However, the Office of the Secretary to Parliament confirmed that it had not received any such submission.
“The University of Limpopo has deliberately misled the public by asserting that it delivered the documents to the Office of the Secretary to Parliament,” Letsie said.
“The Secretary has categorically denied this, confirming the university’s failure to comply.”
Letsie dismissed the notion of a personal conflict between himself and the university, framing the issue as a matter of constitutional accountability.
“This matter is not a personal dispute… It is a question of constitutional compliance and institutional accountability,” he said, stressing the importance of institutional adherence to legal obligations.
In response, the committee will reissue the summons, this time providing a detailed specification of the required documentation.
Letsie said this move had been anticipated due to what he described as “potential resistance”.
He emphasised that the documents in question were critical for oversight functions and to ensure that public universities adhered to principles of transparency and good governance.
“No institution will be permitted to operate outside the law or undermine Parliament’s authority,” he said.
The portfolio committee reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing compliance and upholding the rule of law in the higher education sector.
The university has been hauled over the coals recently due to a number of issues, including governance and administration.
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