The University of SA’s senate should investigate how broadcaster Onkgopotse “JJ” Tabane got his professorship and must eradicate the awarding of “questionable” professorships to its academic staff.
This is a recommendation contained in the report into Unisa's affairs by Prof Themba Mosia, which was completed in March and submitted to Unisa management on May 12.
The report did not mention Tabane by name but instead referred to a prominent media personality.
In the report, Mosia said he received complaints from academic staff in Unisa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership (GSBL) that Tabane was awarded a professorship prematurely and that he was performing duties independent contractors were not authorised to do. In October, Sowetan reported that a group of employees from the GSBL wrote to the vice-chancellor demanding an investigation into the appointment of Tabane, which they alleged was irregular.
“I received a representation from a group of concerned staff members in the GSBL. It had a string of allegations about corruption in a number of areas, among which was an award of a full professorship title to a prominent media personality [Tabane]... Among other allegations was that he was given a job that full-time staff members were appointed to do and at some point he issued warnings to full-time staff, whereas he was a freelancer at the GSBL. They viewed this as a transgression of Unisa’s employment policies,” said Mosia.
He said Tabane’s professorship does not carry any teaching or research load. “I find that the use of a professorial title at Unisa has been diluted over time. The institution appears unable to extricate itself from the clutches of a practice that compromises the image and reputation of a university that has a footprint in the entire continent. I therefore recommend [to] senate to urgently look into the matter and ensure that the academic standing of professors at Unisa are not doubtful and perceived as below par within the institution and outside,” said Mosia.
Tabane declined to comment when approached regarding the report and referred all questions to the university.
“I have no comment on the matter as I was never interviewed by the assessor. Please direct your questions to the university or the assessor,” said Tabane.
The report was compiled after higher education minister Blade Nzimande appointed Mosia to launch an investigation into the governance affairs of Unisa in September.
Tabane was hired as an independent contractor responsible for communications and marketing at the university’s business school in July. The staff members accused the CEO of the business school of appointing Tabane without interviewing him. They also alleged that the position of director for communications and marketing, which Tabane held, did not exist on the approved GSBL structure.
Mosia said Unisa should take remedial steps and ensure that it is not subjected to regulatory scrutiny on its professoriate.
“Senate should make a serious effort to eradicate the special dispensation for professorships, including the award of questionable professorships, protect the interests of the deserving professoriate of Unisa, insists on publications in high-affect journals, and academics to subject themselves to the rigour of credible ratings agencies,” said Mosia.
He said it is concerning that there is an awarding of professorships in the school without a requirement of clear academic outputs.
“The GSBL has 22 academic staff, a total of 24 professors in all categories and what appears to have been an abnormal surge of adjunct professors from zero in 2018 to four in 2021 and 11 in 2022...”
Mosia said the GSBL is one of the departments at Unisa that still experiences a high number of resignations as a result of a toxic environment, burnout, unbearable workloads, a highly politicised university and negative publicity. He said the GBSL has 63 filled positions and 45 vacancies.
Unisa spokesperson Tommy Huma said the university had received the report and is still studying the report.
Huma said the university will not be responding to media inquiries as of yet.
“As per the directive of the minister of DHET [department of higher education & training], Blade Nzimande, Unisa has been given 14 days [from May 12] to respond to the report. The university will be studying the report with the aim of responding within the stipulated time frame,” said Huma.
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