Staff Reporter
The vice chancellor and principal of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Professor Henk De Jager, has been suspended amid claims of a governance crisis at the Free State institution.
The situation at the university is said to be so dire that the chairperson of the CUT council, Boysie Phehlukwayo, allegedly resigned on Tuesday, just a day after the suspension of the vice chancellor.
The university has not formally communicated the suspension and the resignation of the two but close sources say De Jager was suspended during a virtual council meeting which was however not concluded after it degenerated into chaos as members failed to agree on certain issues.
The reason behind Phehlukwayo’s resignation remains unclear.
The council meeting is expected to be reconvened before the end of the week.
The university council is the highest decision-making body at the CUT and consists of 25 members.
At least 60 percent of the council is made up of external members.
The Free Stater has submitted questions in writing as the university’s communication department cannot comment on council matters without approval.
On Wednesday, the South African Students Congress (SASCO) in the Free State appealed to Higher Education and Training Minister Blade Nzimande to urgently investigate the situation at the university.
SASCO provincial task team convenor Asive Dlanjwa said by telephone they were worried developments at the CUT could result in a total collapse of the institution if not addressed urgently.
“We are concerned with the governance instability at CUT and call on the minister of higher education and training to institute an urgent inquiry into the university management and operations,” said Dlanjwa, adding it might be necessary to put the institution under administration.
“There are quite a few allegations regarding the manner in which the vice chancellor has been running operations at the CUT,” he said.
“Some of them include . . . unscrupulous hiring processes, the victimisation of black staff and black academics, in particular, and also the victimisation of students.”
Dlanjwa said they welcomed the suspension of De Jager and urged the CUT council to reconvene its virtual meeting in order to conclude its work and avoid a governance crisis at the university.
In an earlier statement, SASCO suggested that a deputy vice chancellor facing sexual harassment charges and other allegations should also be suspended to pave the way for a full investigation.
The name of the top official is known to this publication but we have chosen not to name them — due to the seriousness of the allegations — until officially charged by the university.
SASCO is also demanding the reversal of the appointment of registrar Choice Makhetha as it allegedly failed to follow procedure.
“The CUT council must urgently reconvene . . . to resolve to reverse the procedurally flawed appointment of Dr Choice Makhetha . . .”
The student body alleges Makhetha — a former deputy vice chancellor at the University of the Free State — is incompetent and wants council to extend by six months the term of office of Pinky Mrwetyana as registrar to allow the process of appointing her successor to be started afresh.