Fort Hare staff vent grievances in open letter

The University of Fort Hare‘ s (UFH) vice-chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu has come under attack from concerned staff members ”.

In an open letter dated November 9, the unidentified staff members make complaints over recruitment and selection processes, supply chain management and alleged victimisation of staff.

The allegations include:

● Victimisation of union leaders;

● Non-compliance and implementation of agreed substantive agreements;

● Dissenting voices are axed; and

● Little regard is paid to compliance with the Disaster Management Act in terms of adhering to Covid-19 regulations.

This has made the university “unworkable and has seen staff members demoralised in a manner never seen before,” the letter states.

UFH spokesperson Tandi Mapukata responded to the Dispatch: Thank you for the enquiry.

However, the University of Fort Hare has decided not to respond to malicious allegations which emanate from unnamed sources.”

In March, UFH students took to the streets in a campaign to have Buhlungu step down.

In the same month, Buhlungu ordered a university shutdown and sent students home after weeks of upheaval across campuses in Alice and East London over financial and academic registration of students.

An urgent court application by the Fort Hare students representative council (SRC) to the Bhisho high court ruled the university could not prohibit students from occupying official university on-campus or private off-campus accommodation allocated to them.

In December 2019, Buhlungu was cleared of wrongdoing. An independent assessors report highlighted numerous problems at the university.

Buhlungu was accused of overstepping his authority when he suspended the university‘s chief audit executive, Martin Soqaga.

Former higher education, science and technology minister Naledi Pandor appointed an assessment panel which found the allegations against Buhlungu were without merit.

Pandor dissolved the university s council in April 2019, with professor Loyiso Nongxa named as its administrator.