Former president Thabo Mbeki is to head an institute at the University of South Africa (Unisa) that will help enforce policies on the African continent, The Star reported on Monday.

Mbeki, who was asked to resign by the ruling ANC in September, said the institute would be a training ground for people to pursue and implement policies for peace and human rights that have already been agreed upon.

This was in line with his belief that the continent's greatest weakness was a dearth of resources to implement stability and that the continent must solve its own problems.

"Quite a comprehensive body of policies was adopted by the continent, but we need people to promote the implementation. The great weakness is not the absence of policies, but how to achieve them," he was quoted as saying.

They would want to attract people in, for example, the civil service to raise consciousness and understanding and equip them with the needed skills.

Questions have been raised about Unisa's link with the institute, after the international university's vice chancellor Barney Pityana voiced support for Mbeki. He also declared an interest in the ANC breakaway party, the Congress of the People, the report continued.

The National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union, some staffers and sections of the student body have already spoken out about the apparent failure to consult them about Unisa's backing of Mbeki.

The university said in a statement that the institute would be pursuing policies in line with Unisa's that are mutually beneficial and related to scholarly exchange.