A perception of skewed priorities

THE revelation in court papers that the University of Zululand is spending almost R20-million on luxury houses for its executives in the upmarket Zini River Estate in Mtunzini, comes at an inopportune time.

This information became public in the Durban Labour Court where the institution’s Executive Director of Finance is opposing her suspension, claiming the university’s action is motivated by her raising concerns about financial irregularities – including the multi-million-rand property deal.

The claims, counter-claims and outcomes will be dealt with by the court.

Whether the university acted above board or not relating to the Zini transaction is, one suspects, not the most pressing issue the tertiary institution’s management will now face relating to this matter.

The timing thereof and perceptions of ‘wasteful’ expenditure it creates are.

The university’s contention that upmarket housing for senior staff must be seen in the context of added perks to attract and retain top quality personnel, is certainly common practice the world over in highly competitive talent headhunting environments.

Under consideration at this time by the uMhlathuze Municipality’s Exco, for example, is a proposal that R3-million be allocated for the construction of a mayoral home in an upmarket area.

The problem is that the logic or merits of such talent seeking or retention strategies will be completely drowned out in the current atmosphere of student agitation sweeping the country.

While students struggle with prohibitive university fees, rising study material and living costs and finding suitable accommodation, it rings hollow when universities plead budget constraints while spending millions on luxury housing for staff.

This is especially true in the University of Zululand’s case where only two months ago Vice Chancellor Xoliswa Mtose, in her State of the University address, prioritised a culture of cost saving and cutting of wasteful expenditure.

No matter the rationale behind the estate deal, students will no doubt see this as skewed priorities.

And that leaves the university vulnerable.

There is a risk that campus groupings with political agendas have now been handed a convenient lever to pull, possibly causing protest and disruptions – something committed students cannot afford.