Evidence wa ka Ngobeni
The rector of the troubled University of the Western Cape (UWC), Cecil Abrahams, has not apologised to the university community for the ”short-sighted, inhuman and mechanical manner” in which he implemented a retrenchment process.
Abrahams was censured by the university’s senate and ordered to issue a public apology ”at an appropriate time” after he decided to retrench 41 academic staffers.
He has, however, privately apologised for claiming in pamphlets distributed by the adminstration on campus that employee associations were consulted about the retrenchments.
But UWC staffers said Abrahams has not shown any indication that he intends to apologise publicly.
”It is clear that Abrahams is the root of the rot that has set into the moral fibre of this university. Even at this stage, he is unrepentant,” said academic staff representative Sean Lewis.
”We want Abrahams to show an indication that he acknowledges that his action has caused a crisis on campus,” Lewis said.
Tensions grew on the campus when its adminstration announced that more than 300 non-academic staff members would be retrenched as well.
There have been several protest meetings, a workers’ strike and an academic boycott on the campus over the past two months.
UWC representative Alwyn van Gensen said Abrahams has not apologised yet, but would do so at an ”appropriate occasion as per the senate’s request”.
He had, however, written letters of apology to the 41 staffers to be retrenched next month and those who felt aggrieved about the way he handled the retrenchment process.
But the staff association is not satisfied. ”UWC is simmering with anger. Abrahams must go,” Lewis said.
”When issues are raised, [Abrahams] seems set on throwing as many of his worthless, whiny obstacles in the path of progress that he can find.”
The academic staff association wants the retrenchments rescinded because it was not consulted.
* Chiara Carter reports that workers and management are once again at loggerheads at the University of the Transkei (Unitra).
Earlier this week, lawyers acting for the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) contacted Unitra council members, as well as Minister of Education Sibusiso Bengu and Unitra principal Professor AT Moleah, to demand that management stop moves to employ independent contractors in place of university workers.
Last week the Labour Court ruled that the services of ”dismissed” university workers had not been terminated until they were ratified by the university council.
Moleah then issued a directive saying workers were not to report to their posts because their services were not required.
The university would, however, pay all affected employees their salaries and the matter would be finalised at a council meeting scheduled to take place at the end of the month.
Nehawu has appealed to council chair Dumisa Ntsebeza to intervene and warned that should the matter not be addressed this week, it intended to launch an urgent court application.