The skirmish for Wits University’s top job continues, writes Philippa Garson
THE students and academics who rallied behind Professor William Malegapuru Makgoba in his recent skirmish in Wits University’s corridors of power have turned against him and don’t want him to lead the institution.
As speculation around contenders for the university’s top job grows, it has emerged that the Wits Transformation Front (WTF) did not nominate Makgoba. The WTF had supported Makgoba in his clash with 13 academics who wanted to unseat him from his position as deputy vice-chancellor.
He lost favour with them after ”capitulating” in the struggle against the group of academics, said Students’ Representative Council president Tiyani Mohlaba. Makgoba has been criticised by them for saving his own reputation at the expense of their mission to ”transform” the university.
He left his position on the university’s 11th floor to take up a research post at the faculty of Health Sciences after lengthy mediation between the warring parties, but managed to keep his disputed academic reputation intact.
Makgoba, who appears to be more excited about research breakthroughs he has made in the field of human sperm behaviour than a possible future as head of Wits, has however been nominated from an unknown quarter for the post.
He said he had not applied — ”I don’t apply for jobs” — and that he had read in the press that he had been nominated. He would ”need to reflect and take advice and counsel from many trusted people” before he decided whether to go for the job.
The WTF instead nominated University of the North Vice-Chancellor Njabulo Ndebele and respected political scientist Professor Sam Nolutshungu.
Nolutshungu is the only outsider known by the Mail & Guardian to have applied for the job and appears to be a strong contender. A Fort Hare University graduate, Nolutshungu left the country in the 1960s and continued his academic studies in the United Kingdom. He is currently based at Rochester University in the UK and authored a book called Changing South Africa, published in 1982.
Ndebele is the first choice of a range of academics and students, but he has made it clear he won’t apply and it is not known whether he has accepted the nomination.
June Sinclair, deputy vice-chancellor and vice- principal, has been nominated by several people both inside and outside the university. She told the M&G she would certainly take the job if offered it.
Frederik van Zyl Slabbert scotched rumours that he was a candidate: ”I’m not that crazy,” he laughed, adding that he had neither applied for nor been approached to take the job.
A new vice-chancellor must be appointed well before the end of the year, given that three deputy vice- chancellorship positions become vacant at the end of the year and the new vice-chancellor must have a say in the new appointments.