A ministerial task team that will probe ongoing disruptions at the North West University will start its work within two weeks, the education ministry announced on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Lunga Ngqengelele said the terms of reference of the task team, led by Dr Joe Phaahla, had been finalised.

The rest of the task team consists of Dr Masupye Kgaphola, Linda Vilakazi-Tselane, Dr Yvonne Dladla, Dr Nico Cloete and Dr John Lewis, all individuals with experience in higher education, business and other civil society structures.

Ngqengelele said the team would investigate the causes of disruptions, instability and discontent at all campuses, especially the Mafikeng campus.

The North West University was created in June 2002 through the merger of the University of the North West and the Potchefstroom University for Christian Higher Education.

Later the staff and students of the Sebokeng campus of Vista University were included.

Since the merger the university had experienced various problems such as the closure of the Mafikeng campus on three occasions, and staff discontent on the Vaal Triangle campus.

"The task team must identify and propose resolutions to the ongoing problems at the university and evaluate the extent to which the North West University has achieved the intended objectives of the merger," said Ngqengelele.

He said the department in the meantime had offered the help of Professor Hugh Africa as a facilitator to mediate on disputes which led to the recent turmoil in Mafikeng.

On Wednesday, NWU spokesperson Louis Jacobs said the situation at the Mafikeng campus was "more or less" normal with some students attending classes.

"Classes are going on but attendance was not as good as we had hoped for," he said.

Ngqengelele said Education Minister Naledi Pandor had again urged the university council to do all in its power to ensure that normal academic activity was resumed.

He said the task team would deliver a preliminary report on its findings within 30 days from starting with its work.

Sapa