Hawks corruption probe of Unisa senior managers is at the centre of efforts to silence acting CFO
3 May 2024
The cooperation of Unisa’s acting CFO in a Hawks investigation into corruption at the institution has emerged as a possible motive for her suspension. As more details emerge of a carefully orchestrated conspiracy to silence Dr Reshma Mathura, AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit has appealed to Dr Blade Nzimande, Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, to intervene.
As Mathura’s legal representative, the Private Prosecution Unit has now been thoroughly briefed on her role in responding to a Section 205 (of the Criminal Procedure Act) subpoena the Hawks served on the institution early in February. Mathura was asked to gather details of five Unisa staff members as well as a company. This is one of at least two Hawks investigations into fraud and corruption related to tender rigging.
Prof. Puleng LenkaBula, Vice-Chancellor of Unisa, suspended Mathura on 19 April on several grounds, notably in response to a whistle-blower report sent to management a few weeks earlier and for sharing documents with outside parties. The Private Prosecution Unit has advised its client that the whistle-blower report and associated unsolicited deposits into her private bank account are part of a scheme to have her removed from her post.
The Private Prosecution Unit has addressed letters to LenkaBula and Dr Daniel Mosia, Chairperson of Unisa’s council. Mosia’s unsatisfactory response, sent by an attorney, prompted the approach to Nzimande. Mathura has also filed a complaint with the Hawks to investigate the unsolicited payments into her bank account. In a knee-jerk response, Unisa filed a criminal complaint against Mathura to investigate those same payments.