Vice-chancellors rally behind Prof Buhlungu following violent protests at Fort Hare
Targeted destruction
Professor Sakhela Buhlungu watches the destruction caused during the violent protests.
Image: Supplied
IN A STRONGLY worded statement issued today, a group of former vice-chancellors of South African universities has voiced their alarm over the extensive damage estimated at R500 million inflicted on the University of Fort Hare due to recent violent protests.
They specifically condemned the targeted destruction of critical infrastructure, including newly-refurbished laboratories, a state-of-the-art student clinic, and crucial administrative facilities containing academic records.
The former vice chancellors are: Saleem Badat, Barney Pityana, Jonathan Jansen, Malegapuru Makgoba, Brian Figaji, Yunus Ballim, Tyrone Pretorius, Wim de Villiers and Max Price.
In the statement, they wrote: "An additional concern is that the arsonists targeted newly-renovated and upgraded buildings, such as the agriculture building’s new laboratories, a new student clinic, and a recently renovated staff centre. Important administrative infrastructure too was destroyed, including academic records and personnel files.
"Disconcertingly, some protestors are calling for the removal of the University’s vice chancellor, Prof Sakhela Buhlungu, a respected and internationally recognised academic. His task is to address systemic neglect and maladministration at Fort Hare - a critical university in the history of black university education."
They said professor Buhlungu had led a necessary process of renewal at Fort Hare, and the he had demonstrated incredible courage in purposefully tackling corruption, mismanagement and maladministration at the institution.
"His efforts have gained the respect and admiration of many people who wish to see an end to the impunity and brazen thievery that are destroying the social fabric of our institutions and society. He boldly called on President Ramaphosa to commission investigations by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) into corruption at the university, which have uncovered both academic and financial fraud.
"Several cases are currently being prosecuted. Some of those implicated in the cases are individuals with significant political influence, which has exposed the university to political pressure and conflicts of interest.
"Research on successful anti-corruption campaigns show that they only succeed when there is political protection for those who expose and determinedly tackle corruption and effective prosecution of those involved."
Ever since the appointment of Prof Buhlungu as vice-chancellor, there have been attempts to violently disrupt the university’s academic programmes and functioning and calls have been made on him to resign, including at his inauguration, they said.
"There are actors and individuals who for good reasons fear his principled and dogged determination to clean up Fort Hare. The scale of the destruction at Fort Hare is extraordinary. Alongside, Buhlungu has been the survivor of an attempted murder and subject to malicious rumours that seek to tarnish his reputation.
"In our view, any termination of professor Buhlungu’s tenure prematurely would have repercussions beyond the University of Fort Hare and would undermine the rule of law at universities in particular and in the country more broadly. It would set a precedent that destruction and intimidation can be successful as political strategy.
"For reasons of historical significance and contemporary relevance - Fort Hare is the custodian of the country’s liberation movements’ archives and of a significant collection of apartheid era art by black artists - the university must be shielded from threats and acts of violence and arson.
"It is the responsibility of the relevant arms of the state to ensure this. And to also ensure that those involved in the arson and violence are identified and prosecuted. There can be no justification of the torching of buildings, facilities and vital records. We must hope that the SIU investigations are not imperilled by the destruction of records.
"We express our unequivocal support for Fort Hare and its leadership or their principled and courageous leadership, for their efforts to ensure that Fort Hare’s academic standing and programmes and academic staff are safeguarded and for what they have achieved to date."