Walter Sisulu University needs R105m bailout

SCATHING government correspondence reveals that Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has requested a R105-million bailout from the state to pay salaries next year.

It also plans to lay off staff.

Neither WSU nor the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) would confirm or deny last week that the university was facing financial woes.

The Daily Dispatch has seen a letter written by DHET director-general Gwebinkundla Qonde to WSU interim vice-chancellor Professor Khaya Mfenyana asking tough questions about his management's ability to manage the finances of the university now that the government-appointed administrator has left.

WSU spokeswoman Angela Church confirmed that the correspondence had been received but declined to comment further. "There will be a meeting to discuss issues set out in the correspondence," Church said.

She said the meeting was scheduled to take place in Pretoria late yesterday.

The meeting was also mentioned in the letter, in which Qonde wrote: "The department is concerned that the situation at WSU has regressed to an extent that the university reportedly now requires a bailout of R105-million to cover personnel costs for January and February 2015."

DHET spokeswoman Kefilwe Makhanya said there was ongoing engagement between the department and the university.

"We will continue to work closely together to find solutions to any challenges that might arise," Makhanya said. - Msindisi Fengu