EAST LONDON - University of Fort Hare vice-chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu has been dismissed, two days before he was due to vacate his position following his resignation last month.
Buhlungu resigned shortly before he was due to begin presenting his defence at a disciplinary hearing.
The university council initially rejected his request to leave with immediate effect, arguing that his employment contract required him to serve a notice period.
However, the council later reversed its decision and agreed to shorten the notice period.
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Buhlungu was due to vacate his position on 23 October.
In a communiqué issued on Wednesday, the council said Buhlungu had been found guilty of two counts of misconduct and a further count of insubordination.
The first misconduct charge related to the appointment of members of the management executive committee without the required institutional consultation and council approval. The allegations included the unauthorised appointment of two executive directors.
The second charge concerned conduct that brought the university into disrepute through what the council described as “disparaging statements made in the media”.
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The council said the additional finding of insubordination, together with the other misconduct findings, had further undermined the trust and confidence required to sustain the employment relationship.
“Council determined that these aggravating circumstances, considered together with the findings of guilt, further undermined the trust and confidence necessary to sustain the employment relationship between the university and its vice-chancellor,” the communiqué read.
According to the council, Buhlungu’s employment was terminated with immediate effect on the evening of 21 October. It said the decision had been communicated to him.