DHET DEPUTY MINISTER INSPECTS WSU’S COVID-19 READINESS

The WSU Butterworth campus recently hosted the Department of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Deputy Minister, Bhuti Manamela on his oversight visit to discuss the institution’s covid-19 response strategies and stakeholder engagement on governance.

The Deputy Minister said the purpose of the visits were part of government’s efforts to save the academic integrity of higher education in South Africa.

The deputy minister was accompanied by other higher education stakeholders which included representation from NSFAS, South African Union of Students and Higher Education Health.

“What’s important to us is to go to staff and students to hear grievances and understand what those issues are and how to resolve those issues. That is why I did not come alone and have brought other stakeholders from the higher education sector,” said Manamela.

Manamela said it must be acknowledged that in as much as we found ourselves in the Covid-19 crisis, generally the higher education sector has been able to respond adequately.

“We were able to respond because of highly considered and thoughtful interventions. Had it not been for those interventions as well as working together within the sector, we would not be where we are,” added Manamela.

WSU’s outspoken former SRC president and current South African Union of Students leader, Misheck Mugabe, unreservedly lauded WSU’s stable financial and corporate governance.

He also said WSU had a good story to tell as the leading university in the national laptop distribution programme with over 20,000 devices delivered during lockdown.

Walter Sisulu University was officially the first institution to successfully distribute laptops worth R98 Million to assist 22,500 students with remote learning under the Covid-19 national lockdown regulations.

The devices were distributed over a two-and-a-half-month period. However, the journey was not without its challenges as the electronic devise sector in SA did not have enough laptops to provide all universities.