An emotional Walter Sisulu University vice-chancellor Professor Rushiella Songca has called on the government to act against criminals targeting South African universities “before it’s too late”.
Songca — who has had to beef up her security detail after the murder of deputy vice-chancellor Sinethemba Mpambane by an unknown gunman outside the university’s Nkululekweni campus gate in Mthatha in June — said WSU was under siege by criminals.
She was speaking from her office at WSU’s Potsdam campus.
Songca has five private security guards protecting her, and revealed that security for the university’s executive managers — including Mpambane’s team after his death — has also been beefed up.
Mpambane, who joined WSU in 2016, previously served as the chief operating officer responsible for infrastructure. He was promoted to deputy vice-chancellor in January.
Songca was reduced to tears as she described events surrounding Mpambane’s death, which happened in the midst of the institution’s efforts to quell rising tensions at the university.
Mpambane’s death came in the wake of violent protests after suspended residence manager Manelisi Mampana was arrested on charges in connection with the fatal shooting of third-year student Sisonke Mbolekwa, and injured student Lizwa Ndzumo in April.
“You know, that day was kind of strange, in a way, because we had a prayer meeting in Mthatha. It was the last campus where we had that — we had done all the other campuses.
“And we were at a point where we all believed that we had achieved some calmness — of course, still acknowledging there was more work to do.
“So, when that incident happened, it just took us by surprise.
“And it created an impression that there was more than we thought there was.
“It was devastating for all the people who worked closely with him, including the executive team and, of course, myself. It was very, very traumatic.”
She said she called Mpambane’s team after the shooting.
“It was very painful, but they assured me they would continue doing their work because they had bought into the vision and had seen the results of their work.”
Songca has called on the national department of higher education to launch an investigation into universities.
“It is happening in most universities … criminals think universities are a new area to exploit.
“If we, representing higher education, do not do something quickly, we are all going to be in trouble … I’m scared that it is not only going to affect us.
“If we think it is only a WSU problem, then by the time we wake up, it will be too late.”
In 2020, Songca became WSU’s first woman vice-chancellor, taking over from Prof Rob Midgley.
Her contract is set to end in March 2026, and she has played down the possibility of continuing.
“I don’t know — it’s up to those who make the decisions. All I can say is that in the five years I’ve been here, I’ve done what most VCs couldn’t do. The work speaks for itself.”
Asked if she wanted to continue, she said: “I won’t comment on that.”
Parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education chair, Tebogo Letsie, said an investigation into Mpambane’s death at WSU was under way, with parliament expecting to be briefed once it concludes.
“We are going to investigate what the problem was and why the guy was killed.
“We can avoid our suspicions that maybe it was related to tenders and all of that.
“Working together with organised crime busters, be it intelligence or SAPS, we are able to then get to the bottom of the problems we are facing.
“But without them releasing the report, it makes it extremely difficult for us. “We are going to interact with [police] around November.
“They must help us by finalising the report, making it public, so that we are then able to structure our meetings in a way that will help other universities out there. “Because we know it’s a sector-wide problem.”
Letsie said the police investigation into Mpambane’s death would assist parliament to intervene in other universities.
“This report must help us, [so we can] plan better for others, and avoid having them go through the same problem before we act on that.”
Prof Jonathan Jansen, former University of the Free State vice-chancellor and author of Corrupted: A Study of Chronic Dysfunction in South African Universities, said corruption was a real problem in SA universities, but it took different forms.
“The killings, the corruption in the municipalities, seep into the universities.
“So the universities aren’t isolated from the general violence, corruption and so on, and of course, we are horrified when it happens on university campuses because we tend to think of these as places of higher education.”
Jansen said the only way to deal with corruption at an institutional level was through strong leadership.
“Your leadership — I mean the vice-chancellor and her team — they have to be able to do a few things well.
“One is to live exemplary lives themselves, so that they’re not accused of being corrupt.
“Second, is setting in place processes that make it difficult for people to steal. Third is making sure there are consequences if people do that.
“But it’s hard, and it’s not going to go away soon, I’m afraid.”
Daily Dispatch
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.