NEHAWU KZN Notes Media Accusations Involving The Principal of Elangeni TVET College
Wednesday August 13, 2025
The National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union [NEHAWU] in KwaZulu-Natal is neither shocked nor caught off guard by the explosive allegations currently making headlines about the Principal of Elangeni TVET College, Ms Zodwa Kula. She stands accused of abusing her position to hire friends, bully staff, and interfere in tender processes.
While the national union cannot confirm the veracity of these latest allegations, they are consistent with our long-held position that Elangeni TVET College has become a nerve centre of corruption and irregularity, particularly in Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Human Resource Management (HRM) processes.
In 2020, the union uncovered damning evidence of malpractice and irregularities within the college, which led to NEHAWU lodging a formal complaint with the Public Service Commission (PSC). The complaint detailed the unscrupulous handling of HRM matters and the blatant flouting of SCM procedures by college management, especially the Principal.
On 4 May 2023, the PSC vindicated NEHAWU by issuing findings against the college, including:
- Irregular awarding of a contract and payment to Imoto Media
- Improper conduct by the Principal during shortlisting, interviews, and appointment processes
- Following these findings, on the 25th of August 2023, the union submitted a memorandum of demands to the Department of Higher Education and Training, which included:
- Immediate suspension of the Principal and all individuals implicated in the PSC report.
- Public release of the PSC report by the Minister of Higher Education and Training.
- Dissolution of the College Council for failing to exercise its oversight responsibilities and instead shielding the Principal.
- A broad forensic investigation into the financial affairs of the college, as the PSC findings may be just the tip of the iceberg.
It is deeply disappointing and frankly unacceptable that despite these findings, and nearly two years later, the Principal remains in office and now faces similar allegations. We therefore demand that the Department move with urgency to place the Principal on precautionary suspension while a transparent investigation into the latest allegations is conducted. We further demand that the long-delayed disciplinary proceedings be fast-tracked, without the endless bureaucratic delays that have become the Department’s excuse for inaction.
NEHAWU will not stand by while the culture of impunity deepens at Elangeni. We will intensify our campaign at the college and across the province until the Principal is removed and those who enabled her misconduct are held to account. NEHAWU will intensify its campaign at Elangeni TVET College until the Principal is removed and accountability is restored.
END
Issued by NEHAWU KwaZulu-Natal Secretariat Office
For more information, please contact: Ayanda Zulu (Provincial Secretary) at 081 758 5199 or email: Ayandaz@nehawu.org.za or
Ntokozo Nxumalo (Provincial Deputy Secretary) at 0815255983 or email: Ntokozo@Nehawu.org.za
Visit https://www.nehawu.org.za
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