The University of South Africa (Unisa) has taken note of news reports carried on SABC News and Channel Africa on Sunday, 21 December 2025 pertaining to allegations made by a structure calling itself Save Unisa Forum, making claims of the capture of the university council, maladministration and poor governance.
The university reiterates its stance that these allegations are a rehash of baseless and unfounded allegations that have been peddled since 2021, whose sole purpose is to cast aspersions on the integrity of the university leadership, especially Council and the Principal and Vice-Chancellor.
Whilst the university has previously rebutted these unfounded claims in the public domain, it wishes to re-emphasise its position on the following points as raised in the SABC News and Channel Africa reports:
On the reappointment of Professor Puleng Lenkabula for a second term
The Council of the university lawfully exercised its authority and mandate in the process to conduct a review of Professor LenkaBula’s performance, based on duly completed performance contracts and assessments conducted annually since her appointment.
Having satisfied themselves that she fulfilled the performance targets agreed to, Council took the decision to reappoint her for a second term.
The complaint by the Save Unisa Forum on the timing of the reappointment is frivolous and lacking in merit.
[Image: Unisa]
On the allegations of the capture of Council and lack of oversight
The Council of the university takes its oversight mandate very seriously; and carries out its duty with diligence and without fear or favour. The executive of the university, led by the Principal and Vice-Chancellor, accounts to Council through properly constituted mechanisms, which include the various committees of Council and the full council itself, which meet regularly and on schedule to provide oversight.
Suggestions that the Council has been captured and does not provide effective oversight are an insult to the good names of the men and women serving in council. Furthermore, decision-making in the university is strictly regulated by Delegation of Authority metrics to ensure that no official oversteps the limits of their authority. Therefore, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor only takes decisions as defined in the Delegation of Authority.
On Professor LenkaBula’s suitability for the position of Principal and Vice-Chancellor
We reiterate that Professor Puleng LenkaBula was appointed via a legitimate, transparent and above-board recruitment process managed by the Council of the university. Like all candidates who vied for this position, she was subjected to the applicable shortlisting and interview processes, which culminated in the Council resolution to appoint her as Principal and Vice- Chancellor.
Clearly, if there was anything untoward in respect of her suitability for the role and/or her qualifications and experience, the selection and credential verification processes would have picked that up.
On the Unisa court application to review the Independent Assessor’s Report
The university has gone on record and communicated that it initiated a court process to review the Independent Assessor’s Report as well as interdict the previous Minister from placing it under administration. If these were not legitimate legal processes, the court would not have taken the decision it as taken with regard to both matters.
Any right-thinking person would know that court documents are public records and can be accessed by anyone through the court system. It is not necessary for the university to provide any evidence of its application to the Save Unisa Forum.
On the alleged awarding of a tender to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Higher Education
We reiterate that allegations that Unisa awarded an R82 million tender to the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education are plain lies, malicious and very defamatory.
The university has never awarded such a tender, a fact also confirmed by the Portfolio Committee Chairperson.
On the planned meeting with the Minister of Higher Education
Meetings between the Minister of Higher Education remain an arrangement between the Minister and the Council and/or executive of the university. The decision to continue with a meeting or defer it to another date is based on agreement between the two parties.
