The Citizen reports that the commercial arm of the University of SA (Unisa), Unisa Enterprise (UE), has reportedly been kicked out of its rented offices at Waterfall Office Park in Midrand due to a R3-million rental debt.

According to sources, Unisa has refused to bail out the company any further because it has already pumped R70 million into the enterprise, with little to show for it. The university also reportedly stripped the company of a catering contract after workers at Unisa Catering Services were not paid and went on strike. UE’s CEO, Lesetsa Matshekga, reportedly told staff in a memorandum, sent out on Wednesday, that “…we will vacate the premises at the end of this month. Staff will work remotely until we secure an alternative, suitable and cost-effective office.”

This comes against the backdrop of desperate staff making an impassioned plea to the university’s management committee to intervene after months of salary payment delays. In July, employees expressed frustration over alleged recurring and poorly communicated delays in salary payments for May, June and July. Staff members have called on the university to directly assume the responsibility of salary payments and to consider relocating the offices of UE to the university premises to reduce rental costs. But, the university has seemingly washed its hands of the company, saying: “Unisa Enterprise is an autonomous entity that operates independently of Unisa.”

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Sipho Mabena at The Citizen

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