By Celani Sikhakhane
- Staff accuse principal Zodwa Kula of giving jobs to friends, interfering in tenders, and creating a culture of fear at the college.
- The Department of Higher Education has been asked to investigate after claims of job-selling and misconduct at the KwaMashu campus.
Zodwa Kula, the principal of Elangeni Tvet College in Durban, is accused of using her position to hire friends, bully staff, and interfere with tenders.
Several staff members have written to the Department of Higher Education, asking them to investigate her leadership. They claim Kula has given jobs and promotions to people she favours, without following proper recruitment procedures, especially at the college’s KwaMashu campus.
Scrolla.Africa has seen the letters that call for an urgent investigation.
Kula is also accused of interfering with the awarding of a tender to a company called Imoto Online.
One source said problems under her leadership started long ago and have continued, even after formal complaints were made in August 2023.
“Her leadership is marked by fear and intimidation,” the source said. “Staff who were hired or promoted during her time are too scared to speak out.”
The source also claimed that in 2020, college officials discovered that some jobs were being sold illegally. While some human resources staff were disciplined, the campus and unit managers involved were never punished.
Scrolla.Africa contacted Kula, and she replied, asking for questions to be sent via email and WhatsApp. She said she would respond using the college’s official channels.
“Please send me the questions via email and WhatsApp so that I will be able to respond to you via our communication,” she said.
At the time of publication, no response had been received.
Pictured above: Zodwa Kula.
Image source: Supplied
