Parliament to subpoena University of Limpopo

POLOKWANE – The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education has announced its intention to issue a subpoena to the University of Limpopo (UL) after the institution failed to provide outstanding responses to the committee despite prior assurances.

This follows the university’s failure to address concerns raised during its appearance before the committee in November 2024.

The committee highlighted several pressing issues, including administrative challenges, over-expenditure in the 2023/24 financial year, and allegations of abuse of power.

A key point of contention is the repeated extension of vice-chancellor Prof Mahlo Mokgalong’s term, which the National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) has slammed as a violation of university statutes.

Despite rules limiting a vice-chancellor’s tenure to 10 years, Mokgalong – who has held the position since 2003 and is now 71 years old – has had his contract extended multiple times by UL’s governing council, chaired by Pandelani Nefolovhodwe. Mokgalong defended the extensions, stating they were necessary to allow him to mentor potential successors.

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie reiterated that the university, as a recipient of public funds, must remain accountable.

He confirmed that the committee has sought the speaker’s concurrence to ensure that the summons includes a directive requiring the university to respond within seven days of receiving it from the Sheriff of the Court.

“The University of Limpopo receives its funding through parliamentary appropriations. As such, it cannot evade its responsibility to operate within the accountability ecosystem,” Letsie said.

In a media statement issued in November, UL declined to comment on the matter until its resolution.