Inquiry into claims of discrimination at Unisa law college

THE University of South Africa (Unisa) has roped in the South African Human Rights Commission to conduct an extensive inquiry into allegations of racism‚ sexism‚ harassment and unfair discrimination in its College of Law.

The commission‚ which kicked off its three-day public hearings at the main campus in Pretoria yesterday‚ has received written submissions and will also hear oral testimony from current and former staff members and interested parties.

Vice-chancellor Mandla Makhanya asked the SAHRC to intervene in December amid brewing racial tensions in the law faculty.

This followed a complaint from a staff member over racism and harassment.

Professor Melodie Labuschaigne formally complained to the university‚ alleging that her black colleagues were blocking her appointment as dean of the faculty because she was white.

But black academics shot back‚ saying the College of Law was a white supremacy and white privilege stronghold‚ with black academics overlooked for promotion‚ transfers and appointments.

The hearings‚ chaired by the commission’s Gauteng provincial manager‚ Buang Jones‚ will‚ among other things‚ consider the institution’s Employment Equity policy and the process of the policy formulation.

They will also determine whether the policy is aligned with the values of the constitution‚ Bill of Rights and Employment Equity Act – and consider whether the university’s employment equity plan makes provision for appointments‚ transfers or promotions that reflect the demographic representativeness of races and genders.