Nzimande dodges questions on UKZN deficit
19 March 2015
I will write to the Leader of Government Business, Cyril Ramaphosa, regarding the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr Blade Nzimande's failure to answer parliamentary questions put to him about the R1.8bn deficit at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
The deficit was brought to light by the DA last year and its existence was unsatisfactorily explained by the University as resulting from the merger of several different institutions and post-retirement medical aid obligations.
However not all of the deficit could be explained in this manner and it appears that the University has taken a substantial loan for an undisclosed amount.
I therefore submitted further parliamentary questions to get information on whether UKZN has ever taken a loan from the Development Bank of South Africa, what the value and repayment terms of the loan or loans were and what the loan or loans were spent on.