Higher education minister Dr Blade Ndzimande has failed once again in his bid to place the University of South Africa under administration.
The High Court declared Ndzimande’s recent publication of a government gazette announcing his intention and naming an administrator was in violation of an August order of the same court barring him from placing the institution under administration or taking any other form of action against it.
Ndzimande was initially interdicted in August but ignored the decision of the court and went ahead to gazette the purported placement of Unisa under administration.
“It is declared that the minister’s decision published in Government Gazette number 49582 Vol. 700 dated 27 October 2023 is in breach of the order granted on 23 August 2023 by honourable Adams J, and is unlawful”, reads the order.
When the initial interdict was granted against Ndzimande his office ignored requests for comment and it is not clear what motivated the latest move despite a court ruling barring the minister from acting against the institution in any manner.
The latest order also directs the minister to immediately halt action against the university.
“the Minister must immediately retract the Government Gazette number 49582”, reads part of the order.
Nzimande’s attempts to place the institution under administration follows claims of widespread maladministration that have since been denied by university management.
The Higher Education ministry was not immediately available for comment.
