SOME staff members of the African Languages Department have expressed outrage at the way Makgoba handled their former acting head, Robert Herbert, an American academic.
In a letter seen by the Mail & Guardian, Makgoba declined a request from Herbert for the renewed contract of one of his staff members, and then told Herbert that his own contract would not be renewed either. One black academic in the department who did not want to be named said Herbert had done wonders for the department in organising international conferences and that the way he had been dealt with “amounted to racism”. He said the appointment of the current head, Nhlanhla Maake, appeared to be a fait accompli. “The person was offered the post before it was advertised. When the selection committee sat — and many of us wanted to appoint Herbert — he had already been earmarked for the position.”
Makgoba was unavailable for comment and Maake was on his way from London to take up the position.