BY REGINALD KANYANE

PREMIER Supra Mahumapelo has expressed confidence that the North West University will be able to reach its transformation targets and be a pride for the province.

This came after his meeting with vice-chancellor Prof Dan Kgwadi in Potchefstroom on Wednesday.

It is over ten years since the merger of the Potchefstroom, Mafikeng and Vaal campuses but complaints have been raised on the slow pace of having same standards of facilities and resources at the three campuses.

Acting provincial government spokesperson, Brian Setswambung said the premier discussed plans how to make sure that all three campuses work together in harmony.

“Premier Mahumapelo met with Professor Kgwadi and he wanted to understand the measures taken by the university to bring equity and academic excellence at all campuses. This came about after complaints that the Potchefstroom Campus was given the best lecturers as opposed to the other two campuses.

“The premier addressed students and reminded them that they are part of society, so they need to make sure there is transformation between black and white communities. He also added that the university must assess and evaluate its diversity process an integral part of their management system. Mahumapelo also said he will make sure he monitor situation closely and be in touch with the management at the university in making sure that is accomplished efficiently and conveniently,” Setswambung said.

Prof Kgwadi said that he shared the premier’s sentiments and will do his best to make sure that transformation is speeded up.

“Our meeting was very successful. I want to reiterate what premier said: we have to eliminate a mindset of selfishness that defined our past so that we can be able to provide academic excellence at this university.

We are working around the clock to bring transformation within all campuses. One thing that I do not want to see is having every campus with its own rector because that creates factionalism and it would have to be done away with,” Kgwadi said.

He added that as the vice-chancellor, it rests upon him to see all campuses receiving the best education possible.

Newly-elected university SRC president at Mafikeng Campus, Linda Xavier Mabengwane said: “We are meeting with the university management today (Friday) and we will discuss all issues regarding transformation within three campuses. So we can say the computer laboratory cater only for 600 students and opened from 8am until 5pm, and that affect learning process to other students. Another issue was facilities, and infrastructures. In Potchefstroom, the infrastructures are maintained and take care of, whereas in Mafikeng and Vaal, you will find that they are dilapidating,” Mabengwane said.

He argued that tuition fee was very expensive and that closed the doors of learning on previously disadvantaged students.

“We will make sure that also highly-qualified lecturers are roped in at both Mafikeng and Vaal campuses. We only have lecturers with master degrees, whereas in Potchefstroom Campus, they having professors. We also want to fight racism issue within the university. All campuses need to be treated equally without any favouritism, because thus far, Potchefstroom students are given first preference,” Mabengwane said.

-TDN

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