A Cry for Help: Unpaid Unisa Enterprise Staff Plead with University to Intervene

Dozens of employees attached to Unisa Enterprise, a commercial subsidiary of the University of South Africa (Unisa), are facing a mounting financial crisis after not receiving their salaries. The staff, who have been left in the lurch, are now making a public plea for the main university to step in and resolve the dire situation.

The non-payment of wages has pushed these employees and their families to the brink, creating immense stress and uncertainty. With bills piling up and financial obligations unmet, the affected workers feel they have no other recourse but to appeal to the parent institution for help.

Caught in a Corporate Limbo

Unisa Enterprise is a separate entity from the university, designed to commercialize the institution’s research and offer professional development courses. However, when such a subsidiary fails to meet its payroll, the human impact falls on individuals who see themselves as part of the broader Unisa community.

The staff are now caught in a difficult limbo. They work to advance the university’s brand and outreach, yet their financial well-being is dependent on the solvency and management of a separate company that appears to be failing them.

The Ripple Effect of Missed Paychecks

The consequences of unpaid salaries extend far beyond the workplace. For the employees, it means an inability to pay rent, buy groceries, cover school fees, and service debts. The psychological toll is equally heavy, leading to anxiety and a feeling of being abandoned by the institution they serve.

This situation also damages the reputation of Unisa as a whole. It raises serious questions about the governance and oversight of its commercial arms and its duty of care to all who work under its umbrella.

A Test of Institutional Responsibility

The staff’s call for intervention places the responsibility squarely on Unisa’s main council and executive management. They are being asked to determine whether their responsibility ends at the legal separation of the subsidiary or if there is a deeper ethical obligation to ensure all workers associated with the Unisa name are treated fairly.

For the unpaid staff, the university is not just a separate corporate entity; it is the ultimate authority that can, and should, provide a solution. The unfolding situation is a stark test of whether a public institution will protect its most vulnerable workers when a business unit fails.