Governance structures of the NWU
The Council governs the NWU through the adoption of purpose and value statements, strategic plans and policies, as well as the Statute, the rules, processes and delegations of authority. Furthermore, Council monitors the operational performance of management and establishes committees and, together with Senate, joint committees, to ensure that the NWU achieves its purpose and values.
The Executive Committee deals with important governance matters between meeting of the NWU Council and acts as a Council membership committee.
The People and Culture and Employment Equity Committee advises Council on all matters relating to people and culture (human resources) and employment equity.
The Extended Executive Committee discusses high-level issues, monitors the relevance and responsiveness of the NWU Quality Manual, monitors the effectiveness and efficiency of the implementation of Council action plans formulated in response to internal and external evaluations, and serves as monitoring and evaluation platform for implementation of Council resolutions.
The Remuneration Committee assists Council in carrying out its responsibilities regarding a fair and responsible remuneration philosophy and its implementation.
The Tender Committee advises the Council on matters related to governance and oversight as these pertain to the NWU’s procurement processes and ensures that these are fair, equitable, transparent, cost-effective and compliant to all relevant regulations and rules.
The Finance Committee advises Council on financial and investment matters and on long-term infrastructure development at the NWU (also through obtaining specialist advice from the Assets, Tender and Investment subcommittees).
The Transformation Oversight Committee advises Council on the implementation of the transformational aspects of the Annual Performance Plan.
The Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee advises Council on the safeguarding of the NWU’s assets, the maintenance of adequate accounting records, the development and maintenance of an effective system of internal control, overseeing management’s role in creating and maintaining a proper risk management process, and authorising the annual audit fee for the external auditors. It also provides a channel of communication between Council, management, the internal audit function and the external auditors.
The Student Life Oversight Committee advises Council on all relevant student matters and steers the strategic direction towards inculcating a unified and integrated student-life culture across NWU campuses in which optimal integration of student activities aimed at inclusivity and embracing multiculturalism and diversity takes place.
The Student Representative Council is the duly elected body within Student Life that oversees the management of organised student life and represents students on various governance structures.
The Social and Ethics Committee provides oversight and guidance in assisting Council to develop and understanding of management and oversight about the positioning of the NWU as an integral part of the society in which it functions.
The Senate is responsible for regulating all teaching-learning, research and academic support functions, as well as for determining academic policies and rules.
The Student Housing Committee provides strategic direction, governance and oversight in regard to the relevant functions of the committee particularly as this pertains to the provisioning of student housing in university-owned and university-leased as well as privately owned and university-accredited facilities.
The Convocation is the body of alumni that is constituted with the aim of creating a link between the university and its corps of alumni. It also designates four members to serve on Council.
The Honorary Awards Committee acts as a selection committee that screens and considers awards by the NWU, including honorary degrees, chancellor’s medals, honorary naming or any other awards by means of which persons or entities are honoured with the purpose of recommending such awards to Council.
The Human Rights Committee advises the Council on various matters pertaining to human rights and social justice. This includes advocacy efforts related to human rights, such as addressing incidents of gender-based violence, racism, intolerance, and discrimination.
The Technology and Information Governance Committee assists Council with the governance of all information technology aspects at the NWU.
The Institutional Forum advises Council on the implementation of the Higher Education Act and national higher education policies, as well as on the fostering, of a university culture that promotes tolerance, respect for human rights and an environment conducive to learning, teaching and research.
Committees supporting Council
All Council committees are formally constituted, have terms of reference and consist of a majority of Council members who are neither employees nor students of our public higher education institution. The Council and its committees are chaired by external independent members with the necessary expertise and skills.
Quality manual
The Council Quality Manual was revised and approved by the Council on 22 June 2023, and is based on the norms prescribed by the DHET Governance Scorecard. Some of the aspects it covers are monitoring mechanisms to gauge the effectiveness and efficiency of Council activities, identifying risks around the functioning of Council and measuring key areas of Council’s operations.
COUNCIL STATEMENT ON SUSTAINABILITY AS VALUE ADD
At the NWU we define sustainability as the ability of the university to create value in the short, medium and long term by promoting stakeholder inclusive approach to developign a strategic response to the risks and opportunities faced, We consider material matters, whether financial or non-financial in nature.
Material matters of a social and environmental nature are as important as financial and economic issues in determining the overall value created by the NWU. The five-year strategic plan and the business plan for implementing the strategy are integral to the value-creation process and to ensuring our sustainability. The six long-term goals and the four enables of the NWU Strategy 2015 to 2025 underpin the commitment of the university in this regard.
the NWU Council on 13 June 2024.
COUNCIL STATEMENT ON ETHICS AND VALUES
The NWU Code of Ethics commits the university to the highest standards of integrity, behaviour and ethics in dealing with all its stakeholders and society at large.
In accordance with our ethics strategy, we aspire to lead in ethical behaviour towards all our stakeholders, while advocating the principles of respect, honesty, transparency and accountability and conducting our business through the use of fair and commercially competitive practices.
The values statement in the NWU Strategy 2015 to 2025 determines that the NWU fosters engaged and caring staff and students and embeds the following foundational values that are based on the constitutional values of human dignity, equality and freedom in our practices:
- Ethics in all endeavours
- Academic integrity
- Academic freedom and freedom of scientific research
- Responsibility, accountability, fairness and transparency
- Embracing diversity.
the NWU Council on 13 June 2024.
Ethical leadership and corporate citizenship
Ongoing oversight creates an environment conducive to detecting and countering possible unethical or irregular practices. In 2023, the Social and Ethics Committee and the ARCC fulfilled this ongoing oversight role.
At policy level, a number of Council-approved policies instil an ethical leadership culture and strengthen the NWU’s position as a corporate citizen. Click here for a list of these policies.
The revised NWU Code of Ethics, which Council approved in the previous year, sets out the ethical behaviour expected of our Council members against the background the university’s values statement. We also have an ethics management plan, summarised as follows:
Strategic focal area 1:
Governance and management
commitment to ethics
At both management and governance levels, ethics risks and reporting are regularly discussed.
Strategic focal area 2:
Ethics accountability
Policies are clear and enforceable, and the right structures and reporting processes are in place to facilitate the governance and management of ethics.
Employees and students are protected from victimisation when reporting on ethics matters.
Strategic focal area 3:
Ethics talk and awareness
The degree to which employees are familiar with ethics and ethical conduct, know what is expected of them regarding ethical behaviour and feel comfortable to address ethical concerns with peers and leadership.
The NWU Behavioural Manual is used to regulate employee conduct and was updated in 2023. It has been approved by Council and becomes effective on 1 January 2024.
Matters dealt with in 2023
Disciplinary action was taken against 44 NWU employees who were charged with misconduct.
Seven employees were summarily dismissed after undergoing disciplinary action. One employee went on early retirement and six others resigned with immediate effect before disciplinary action had been finalised. One employee was found not guilty and written warnings were imposed in the remainder of the cases.
A total of 18 matters were referred to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA). Of these, 12 matters were finalised, one matter was withdrawn by the applicant and the remainder are still ongoing.
The Language Directorate attempts to resolve language matters as early on as possible so that these do not escalate.
Complaints can be reported to the Ombudsperson in the Language Directorate for investigation.
Matters dealt with in 2023
There was a noticeable increase in language-related inquiries and complaints in 2023. All of these were investigated and effectively resolved. Clear guidance was given, with a focus on inclusivity, diversity and a commitment to ethical principles.
Six sexual harassment cases were reported in 2023.
Matters dealt with in 2023
In two of these cases, the perpetrators resigned, while in another, the perpetrator went on early retirement before the case was finalised. In the fourth case, the complainant withdrew the matter and in a fifth, the parties agreed that there had been a misunderstanding between them. In the final case, the employee was dismissed from the employment of the NWU.
Reports on maladministration and irregularities are received via reporting boxes placed on all three campuses, or via the email address REPORT‑FRAUD@nwu.ac.za.
Matters dealt with in 2023
Seven reports were placed in the reporting boxes 2023, compared to three in 2022.
In November 2023, we launched a fraud website with an electronic reporting form.
Internal Audit plays an important role in the ongoing investigation of suspected irregularities. Of the investigations reported in 2023, seven were received via the reporting boxes on the different campuses, and the rest were referred by internal members/employees.
Matters dealt with in 2023
Internal Audit investigated 53 reported cases in 2023, of which 23 were completed. A total of 27 investigations were still underway at the end of the year, including one reported in 2022.
The nature of the allegations investigated ranged from fraudulent amendments on invoices to possible conflict of interests, tender irregularities, admission irregularities and general misuse of NWU resources.
The NWU’s Anti-Fraud Strategy calls for a specific focus on Internal Audit’s proactive and continuous audit monitoring of procurement and payroll transactions. Various tests are continually run and reported to operational managers to follow up and identify the need for further investigation.
Matters dealt with in 2023
We have handed eight cases of forgery and uttering and misappropriation of resources over to the South African Police Services (SAPS). Two of these cases has been closed.
According to preliminary calculations, the amounts involved are over R1,7 million, of which approximately R530 000 has been recovered from two employees.
The NWU’s regulatory universe currently consists of 137 pieces of legislation. Compliance self-assessments and monitoring are scheduled according to a three‑year rolling plan.
Regular compliance reporting to Council committees takes place in May and October during each year of the three‑year compliance plan.
Council receives quarterly reports on changes to legislation relevant to the higher education environment.
Matters dealt with in 2023
In 2023, compliance with 25 pieces of legislation was self-assessed. Click here for a full list of this legislation.
The Compliance Department concluded the work from the first three‑year rolling plan (2021-2023) and a new three‑year rolling plan for 2024-2026 was approved.
The new plan will include all low-risk legislation that was not self‑assessed previously, as well as a follow-up and re-evaluation plan for all previously assessed high-risk legislation.
To ensure compliance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), the information governance coordinator reports regularly to the Information Management Committee and in turn to the University Management Committee and the Technology and Information Governance Committee of Council.
Matters dealt with in 2023
In 2022/23, the NWU received 31 PAIA requests. Of these, 22 were granted in full, seven were refused in full and two were partially refused.
POPIA training has been developed and implemented online, and an attendance monitoring system is in place.
The purpose of the Combined Assurance Forum (CAF) is to manage and limit the risk exposure of the university and to provide assurance.
Matters dealt with in 2023
The CAF undertook risk assurance mapping and second-level risk assurance on all risks on the Strategic Risk Register with a risk rating of 8 and above. Further, a third-level risk assurance audit was undertaken on the top 10 strategic risks.
In addition, the forum assisted the ARCC to fulfil its responsibility in giving assurance to Council.
More information on risk management can be found in the section on material risks and opportunities impacting value.
The constituting meeting of the Human Rights Committee (HRC) took place on 1 June 2023. Council approved the reviewed terms of reference of the HRC on 22 June 2023. The revised Human Rights Policy was approved by the Council on 16 November 2023.
Matters dealt with in 2023
The HRC confirmed that all reports of alleged human rights violations were presented to the committee without any filtering. The committee established an email address for reporting infringements, monitored by People and Culture staff, with all reports documented for trend analysis. Awareness campaigns and training were conducted to sensitise staff and students.
Council statements
The following Council statements can be found here:
- Council statement on going concern
- Council statement of financial controls outside financial statements
- Council statement on financial health and viability
- Council statement on tenders
- Council statement on contract management, SLAs and monitoring of suppliers’ performance
- Statement on penalties, sanctions and fines
Greatness without boundaries
There is no doubt about it: the NWU’s top alumni have mastered the art of excellence.
We recognised 10 of our outstanding alumni during a prestigious Alumni Awards of Excellence event at the Capital Hotel Menlyn in Pretoria on 9 November 2023. (Read more)
The recipients of the NWU’s 2023 Alumni Awards of Excellence are Prof Kobus Eloff, Dr Dumisani Jantjies, Chris Nell (on behalf of Louis-Gillis Janse van Rensburg), Dr Monicca Bhuda, Susan Cilliers, Prof Musawenkosi Donia Saurombe, Amé Bell, Ofentse Kgwadi (on behalf of Prof Ntate Dan Kgwadi) and Dr Alistair Mokoena. At the back are Prof Pieter Kruger and Phenyo Kgwadi (on behalf of Prof Ntate Dan Kgwadi).