The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has expressed sharp criticism of the University of Limpopo‘s exorbitant legal spending. During their oversight visit to the province, the committee expressed concern over $3.82 million spent on legal fees over a five-year period. The committee has attributed the spending to legal battles with students and staff.
In expressing their concerns, the committee chairperson, Mr. Tebogo Letsie, highlighted that there was a major breakdown in financial controls at the internal university. He questioned why the university audit mechanisms did not identify these increasing spending patterns earlier. The committee expressed frustration over the quality of legal briefs presented to them, as they highlighted that the university has been losing cases in court, leading to wastage of funds that could have been used to support academic activities.
Another major area of contention was the University Council’s negligence, as the committee argued that the University Council neglected its oversight role in ensuring that the university management was held accountable for the rising legal expenses. This negligence in governance has put the university in an awkward financial situation.
Despite the university’s financial woes, the committee’s evaluation of the university’s infrastructure was positive, and the committee’s members walked through the university’s facilities and were impressed by the university’s readiness to open in the 2026 academic year. The committee noted that there were no major issues with the university’s infrastructure.
Leadership stability also seems to be on an upward trajectory, and the committee was pleased with the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor, Dr Jeffrey Mabelebele, as this was seen as a critical step in the right direction in terms of leadership for improved governance and institutional performance.
In closing, the committee urged the Department of Higher Education and Training to present a detailed update on the interventions intended to address the underlying causes of the litigious culture at the university. Mr Letsie stated that while there was significant improvement in terms of leadership and infrastructure, the deeply concerning legal expenditure was an area that needed urgent and decisive action to ensure sustainability.
