BIUST responds to corporate governance matters
Correspondent | Friday March 31, 2023 14:51
The University is still processing disciplinary proceedings against our employees and therefore I cannot comment substantively in relation to that.
Q: When a member of Council who is also a whistleblower is suspended by the VC, who is a subject of the whistleblowing, and BIUST Council which you lead just watches, are you not concerned about the repercussions of your silence on the image of the BIUST Council, and indeed on your personal image as the chairperson of the Board?
A: I wish to indicate that the University acted swiftly to investigate the allegations in November of 2022. I wish to reiterate further that our employees are not being disciplined for whistleblowing but for the charges communicated to them.
Q: There is a worry that with this recent incident, the BIUST Council has demonstrated that the VC is untouchable, the Council cannot guarantee confidentiality of Council secrets/whistleblowers, Council does not care about issues raised?
A: This is incorrect. The complaint against the VC was brought to the attention of the Council towards the end of September.
The council investigated in October and November 2022 and concluded the matter. This is an indication that we hold our officers to the highest standards of integrity and leadership. The issue was not even about council secrets; it was about leakage of confidential information in the custody of BIUST management NOT COUNCIL SECRETARIAT.
Q: The speed with which a fellow council member was dismissed or suspended soon after whistleblowing, has further raised questions as to whether the issues were thoroughly investigated by your Council?A; I wish to point out that nobody has been dismissed. The employees were suspended to allow for investigations which is an internal exercise to institute disciplinary hearing on leakage of confidential information not whistleblowing.
The employees are not suspended for whistleblowing, but for other acts of misconduct communicated to them by BIUST management not BIUST council. As is normal procedure, if the employees are not happy with the outcome of the management, they are free to appeal to Council.
Q: Can you confirm whether the council did or did not suspend the VC to investigate Dr Malatsi’s whistleblowing report?A: The VC was not suspended during the investigation because the exercise was to verify information submitted as evidence against reality on the ground.
A: As the chairperson, how do you look at the issues raised in the whistleblowing report? Do you consider them pertinent or just a storm in a teacup?
A: The issues were considered pertinent enough to be investigated. Let me also highlight that the matter was also in parallel reported to other investigative arms of government who are still handling the matter and the University awaits their report.
Q: With the subsequent judgement of the court, does the Council find it just fine? for the VC to continue to have Dr Malatsi suspended from work?A: The suspension of the employee is not related to the Court Order. The order was for protection of Confidential University documents as the BIUST management saw fit.
Q: For the record, are the allegations of rampant abuse of power, finances by the VC real or false?.A: The investigations have demonstrated that the allegations are baseless and unfounded. No clear evidence was availed to support the allegations. Further, should there be anything missed, other ongoing investigations by professional investigators should be able to fill the gap.
Q: If real, why would the BIUST Council continue to have such a leader at the helm of the esteemed institution?
A: Refer to our comment at Question 6