Fort Hare University has decided to dismiss Professor Sachale Buhlungu from his post as Vice-Chancellor due to serious misconduct. This occurred two days before his resignation was set to take effect on Friday.
An independent disciplinary investigation found that Buhlungu appointed senior managers without council approval and brought disgrace upon the university by making derogatory statements in the media.
The university council stated in a communiqué published by IOL that Buhlungu's employment was terminated immediately on Wednesday evening, and he was notified of the decision.
The council made this decision at a special meeting on Wednesday, one day after the independent chair of the investigation recommended his dismissal.
Trust and confidence undermined
Professor Vezile Chita, President of the South African Council for Health Professions, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor for Fort Hare. The council unanimously selected him last Friday, and he was expected to assume duties in the first quarter of 2027.
Council Chairperson Dr. Siyanda Makwala noted that Buhlungu's hearing was one of three separate disciplinary proceedings arising from the Moara report. The council stated that this report revealed violations of the university statutes by several staff members.
Makwala emphasized: 'It is important to note that all three chairs independently concluded that the misconduct was so serious that it warrants dismissal, which underscores the seriousness of the statutory violations and the need for accountability in exercising institutional power.'
He added: 'The council would like to thank the university community for its patience, understanding, and continued trust in the process and the council's commitment to discharging its oversight duties diligently, without fear, favoritism, or bias, and in the best interests of the university.'
The investigation chair found Buhlungu guilty on two counts of misconduct when presenting his findings last Thursday. The first count related to a serious breach of the university statutes, as Buhlungu appointed members of the executive management committee without necessary internal consultation and without council approval.
The second count concerned derogatory remarks made by Buhlungu in the media, which the chair believed brought disgrace upon the university. Buhlungu was found not guilty of an additional charge of insubordination.
The investigation chair, based on probability, determined that the misconduct was serious enough to constitute gross misconduct and recommended dismissal on Tuesday. The council took into account the finding of innocence regarding insubordination, as well as the distinction made by the chair between insubordination and defiance.
It was determined that although Buhlungu's conduct did not constitute insubordination, it demonstrated an inability to respect the university's governing body. The council also considered Buhlungu's failure to participate in the disciplinary proceedings as additional defiance and an aggravating factor.
It was established that these aggravating factors, alongside the guilty findings, undermined the trust and confidence necessary to maintain his position as Vice-Chancellor. Consequently, the council decided to support the chair's recommendation and relieve Buhlungu of his office due to serious misconduct.