Suzy Bell
Allegations have surfaced that the newly appointed deputy director general in the Department of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology, Musa Xulu, has given false testimony and participated in a fraudulent substitution of documents in an attempt to prove a case of misconduct against a former colleague and teacher.
Jeff Robinson, who has taught music to historically disadvantaged students in Africa for over 15 years, was suspended nearly two years ago (March 1996) when working under Xulu, who was then head of the music department at the University of Zululand.
All but three of the 14 charges brought against Robinson have Xulu as their source. Robinson has kept meticulous records of all his dealings with Xulu, who now faces hard- hitting examinations by Robinson’s attorney.
An exasperated Xulu said this week that he feels he is misunderstood: “I come from nowhere, I’m a self-made man and a human being – maybe there is a campaign to destroy me. There is a growing list of people who dislike me. When an African person stands up and asserts himself and tries to correct things, there are people who say I’m arrogant. I’m angry about that.”
Xulu said he does not want to “destroy Robinson. I even declined to take part in the hearing, but on humanitarian grounds I’m now participating. Personally I would have liked to have this matter settled somewhere else. But I feel I play a minor role here and often my role in this life is exaggerated, maybe I should be an actor.”
Xulu was awarded his PhD by the University of Natal Durban in 1992. He received a lectureship at the University of Durban Westville (UDW) for three years where colleagues in the music department said his contract period was “highly problematic”.
His contract was not renewed. Xulu called for a commission of inquiry with allegations of “racism and an ANC cabal”. The commission, headed by John Butler-Adams (vice-rector of UDW at the time), then upheld the department’s recommendation and Xulu had to leave UDW.
But Xulu denied that any such commission of inquiry took place. He said: “I did plead they renew my contract as I was the first African person to teach in that department. I was angry they threw me into the street jobless.” He later took up a post for 18 months at a teacher-training college in Nongoma where he became vice-rector.
In August 1994, Xulu was shortlisted for the position of head of the music department at the University of Zululand where he had done his undergraduate studies in the early 1980s (ironically under Robinson, in 1984).
The external members of the interviewing panel, which included Xulu’s former head of department at UDW, warned against appointing Xulu, advising a further search for a suitable candidate. Ignoring their advice, University of Zululand rector Charles Dlamini appointed Xulu as associate professor and acting head of music.
Although the outcome of the hearings is expected to be revealed next month, allegations still persist of Xulu’s involvement with the now bankrupt KwaZulu- Natal Arts and Culture Council based in Durban, of which Xulu was the chair during 1996/97 when the government gave the council a R3-million grant.
The financial records of the council are currently under investigation by the Department of Education and Culture because of alleged mismanagement and embezzlement of funds. Insiders at the time confirmed that Xulu’s resignation from the council was an “acrimonious one”.
Two highly placed sources confirmed that when Xulu resigned he delivered a 13-page document (in the possession of the M&G) which outlines the corruption within the council. “He did this,” said one source, “very cleverly to clear himself because of his new position then with the council.”
The other source said, “Xulu just wanted to pass the buck,” and that Xulu’s new appointment was “a political one”. People were “very surprised” he landed such a top position when “there is much talk about his past. We were hoping that something substantial would come out before he officially took up his newly elected appointment with the national ministry, but now he’s in there, what can we do?”