A civil society group, SaveUnisa, is questioning the early reappointment of Professor Puleng LenkaBula as Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa (UNISA), raising concerns about governance and accountability at one of the country’s largest public institutions.eLenkaBula was reappointed for a second term late last year, despite still having a year remaining on her first term. She took office in late 2020, becoming the first woman to lead Unisa.

SaveUnisa argues that the timing of the decision has tilted the balance of power within the university’s leadership structures. The group claims the university council is failing to exercise effective oversight over the Executive.

“We believe the council has been captured to the extent that the vice-chancellor now wields more authority than is appropriate,” said SaveUnisa representative Simamkele Xani. “When correspondence addressed to the council does not reach it, and is effectively blocked at administrative level, it points to serious governance failures. Council members have a duty to hold leadership accountable, and that duty is not being met.”

Xani said the group had even considered taking legal action against individual council members for what it sees as a failure to fulfil their responsibilities.

Unisa has yet to respond publicly to the latest criticism. The university has previously maintained that the reappointment process followed established procedures and was intended to provide leadership continuity.

–ChannelAfrica–