Now into its seventh year of existence, WSU was, in October 2011, placed under administration at the request of the Council, Management and WSU stakeholders. An Administrator, Prof L van Staden, was appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Dr B Nzimande for a period of two years to lead WSU's turnaround. Therefore, WSU was undergoing a massive turnaround strategy to improve infrastructure and review academic enterprise, financial sustainability, human resources and drive change management.