MPs question University if Fort Hare management's fitness to hold office

PARLIAMENT'S higher education watchdog has called on Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela to appoint an Independent Assessor to address governance issues amid ongoing tension at the University of Fort Hare.

- THEOLIN TEMBO

Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training chairperson Tebogo Letsie addressed issues at the universities of Fort Hare and Free State during a media briefing by Parliament's Social Services Cluster oversight committees.

The briefing came after several protests at both higher education institutions.

Students at the University of Fort Hare burned tyres, organised protests, and disrupted classes, demanding the immediate resignation of vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.

They accused him of corruption and overstaying his tenure after the alleged unlawful extension of his term past retirement age.

They also expressed frustrations over student housing conditions and deficiencies in safety and security.

The University of Free State (UFS) also experienced violent protests that saw students having to evacuate the premises.

The violent outbursts were linked to changes within the UFS financial support system.

Letsie said that they were confronted with a sad reality at the University of Fort Hare, as it lost invaluable infrastructure including buildings, ICT, and equipment, critical to teaching, learning, and research, simply because stakeholders could not come together to engage.