It never rains, but it pours for Univen, as two more senior staff members were put on suspension. This came about after the university was rocked by incidents of violence, with students demanding an immediate suspension of the officials.

The suspended two, both directors, are alleged to have misdirected funds meant for disadvantaged students and channeling it to their daughters. Mirror has reliably learnt that the two, Mr Rufus Kharidzha, Director of Communications, and Mr Tendani Ramulongo, Director of Finance, were served with their suspension letters last Friday. It is alleged that the two as directors made sure their daughters benefited from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme and other grants by channeling thousands of rands to their daughters, even though they did not need the money, because they qualified for a 100% remission of fees on tuition. The money was meant for deserving, but disadvantaged students whose parents cannot afford to pay tuition fees.

In another development, another official who is attached to the PRO, Ms Eunice Nevhulamba, resigned after admitting guilt at the commencement of the disciplinary process against her. She allegedly found herself on the wrong side of the university´s rules, after a stationery tender worth more than R700 000 was awarded to her own company, Fulufhelani Printing and Catering Services, in March last year. The company, a close corporation, is solely owned by herself. She is alleged to have flouted the university´s tender rules which state that tenders worth more than R300 000 should be advertised and go on open tender and not employ the three quotations system as is the case here.

The latest developments are a continuation of what started late last year when two officials at the university were also suspended for not executing their duties properly. This matter also stemmed from financial irregularities. Mr Justice Nnzeru and Mr Eddie Mutavhatsindi have been under suspension since then and the general public is awaiting the outcome of this matter with keen interest.

Asked for comment, the university registrar, Khuliso Nemadzivhanani, would not confirm or deny the suspensions. All he had to say was that the Vice-Chancellor had received an audit report on the investigation into the administration of XSTRATA and other bursaries on 26 March 2008. He said appropriate action in accordance with the university staff disciplinary procedure manual was being taken. Nemadzivhanani said the standard procedure was that if allegations are leveled against a particular employee, the employee is given ample time to respond. In this case, the two were given until Friday (today) to respond and an official statement will be issued soon.

"At this stage, we cannot divulge any more information about the allegations, as this might prove prejudicial to people against whom allegations were leveled. Let´s afford them a fair chance to respond," he said.

On the issue of Mutavhatsindi and Nzeru who were suspended late last year, Nemadzivhanani said the parties had reached an amicable settlement the terms of which neither of the two parties could divulge without the permission of the other. The resignation of Nevhulamba has left many questions unanswered with many suspecting the tender irregularities were just the tip of an iceberg.

In a communiqué issued by Nemadzivhanani to the university community this week, it is said Nevhulamba was dismissed after admitting guilt to contravening certain aspects of the University Staff Disciplinary Procedure Manual. Nemadzivhanani said the university had adopted a zero-tolerance stance on corrupt activities and would do all it could to minimize or completely root it out.

An unnamed source at the university said the university had become a haven for corruption. "All seem to be involved in corruption here. It is just a matter of time before more people involved are exposed. The management has a mammoth task of ridding this institution of corruption," he said.

Ndivhuho Muthivhi, an organizer for the ANCYL on campus, said they would wait for the disciplinary process to take its course and after that, take appropriate action. "We are only giving them up until Thursday (yesterday) to complete their investigations and we will make a full statement," he said.

Another source indicated that a meeting of joint structures was to take place and, if no satisfactory response on the matter was received, the two suspended directors would be marched off campus. This after the two apparently continued with their duties, despite their suspension. Another faction is allegedly insisting that Mr Nemadzivhanani himself be suspended for his purported involvement in the matter.