Universities under siege by mafia groups in South Africa

Grant Abbott, Secretary General of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), has raised the alarm over what he calls the “capture” of South Africa’s universities by deeply embedded corruption networks.

Speaking to BizNews, Abbott described how universities have become compromised by what he terms “corruption mafia” groups. 

He explained that these groups are actors who have infiltrated governance and management structures to enable large-scale fraud and criminality.

Abbott noted that the erosion of governance at universities is the heart of the issue. “There are universities without councils in place or with councils that are just not operating properly,” he said. 

University councils are supposed to hold management accountable, but Abbott said that in many cases, they collude together, creating fertile ground for corruption. 

This systemic failure has allowed criminal elements to operate with impunity at many of South Africa’s most prominent universities.

“We’ve coined the term ‘university capture’ in the line of state capture, and unfortunately, we see a lot of that happening.”

One of the most prominent cases of university corruption is at the University of Fort Hare, where over R172 million in fraudulent activity has been uncovered. 

Abbott stressed that this was probably just the tip of the iceberg, describing the situation as “a grave concern.” The case has implicated at least 26 university employees and service providers. 

However, Abbott questioned how such widespread corruption could have happened without the vice-chancellor’s knowledge or involvement. 

“Either he is completely complicit or incompetent,” Abbott said, calling for greater scrutiny and accountability at the highest levels of leadership.

The NTEU has not only been a vocal critic of this corruption but has also borne the brunt of retaliation from those who benefit from it. 

Abbott detailed the systematic targeting of union leaders who speak out. He cited the case of the union’s president, who Fort Hare dismissed in what Abbot described as a “predetermined process.” 

Crucially, the chairperson of that internal hearing and the HR director involved in the dismissal were later arrested for their roles in corruption at the institution. 

More needs to be done for whistleblowers

The dismissal was overturned by the CCMA, which ordered reinstatement, validating the union’s claims of a rigged process.

This kind of victimisation is not isolated. Union leaders at other institutions have faced similar issues. 

These leaders often faced dismissals following attempts to report misconduct or oppose problematic appointments. Abbott explained that these tactics are deliberately designed to silence dissent. 

“They do that purposefully because then no one wants to speak up if the top leaders are being targeted and can lose their jobs,” he said.

Abbott also expressed concern about the legal professionals who were once involved in investigating corruption at Fort Hare and are now themselves facing charges.

He also alleged that whistleblowers and those fighting corruption are punished to protect more powerful individuals. “There’s been a lot of people being thrown under the bus to cover up for some,” he added.

Despite the bleak picture, Abbott pointed to some glimmers of hope. He praised the work of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education.

He said they are asking the right questions of the right people and holding institutions accountable. “We celebrate the work of that committee.”

Additionally, the NTEU has been in ongoing discussions with the Department of Higher Education, and Abbott said it is showing a willingness to engage with the union’s concerns. 

Despite this progress, Abbott said support for affected staff and whistleblowers is sorely lacking at the university level. 

“A place that should develop the country’s future leaders has become compromised by criminality and fear,” he said. 

“We need people to come forward and say, despite the possibility, despite the risks, we’re going to stand up in the face of corruption, speak truth to power, and say no more.”

BusinessTech reached out to Universities South Africa for comment, but the group did not respond by the time of publication. This article has been updated to remove reference to certain universities that were not the focus of the commentary.