postponed
Mungo Soggot
The sacked rector of the Vaal Technikon, Professor Aubrey Mokadi, has told the institution’s council he is suffering from an “anxiety disorder” that justifies a postponement of his appeal against the disciplinary probe which fired him.
Mokadi has sent the Vereeniging technikon a copy of a clinic’s letter that states he is suffering from an “anxiety disorder”.
The technikon’s attorneys confirmed this week they had received the letter, and had asked the clinic, Fisha Psychological Services, for details about itself and the doctor who had examined Mokadi. This request had yet to be met at the time of going to press.
Mokadi appealed the finding by the disciplinary inquiry, which was chaired by the head of the Johannesburg Bar Council, advocate Roland Sutherland, SC, last November. Sutherland, who recommended the council axe Mokadi, found the controversial academic guilty on several counts of impropriety, including securing himself an unauthorised, massive increase in his housing allowance.
Sutherland said in his judgment that Mokadi had “consciously and deliberately behaved in a patently underhand manner. Such findings in respect of Professor Mokadi are tragic. He is manifestly a talented and gregarious person.”
Mokadi was suspended in November 1997. The most remarkable aspect of his lengthy battle with the technikon has been the support he has received from Minister of Education Sibusiso Bengu, who mentored Mokadi at Fort Hare University.
Bengu threatened to cut off the technikon’s subsidy last November if it proceeded to fire Mokadi – a threat which was endorsed by the Office of the Public Protector, which also sought to intervene several times on Mokadi’s behalf during the saga.
Mokadi declined to comment this week on his bid for a postponement of his appeal, saying his health was a “private matter”. He said he would eventually be vindicated, claiming Sutherland had been biased against him.
Mokadi said his version of events – such as his contention that the technikon’s council had embarked on a witch hunt against him – had not been reflected in the Mail & Guardian. “I feel I have been unjustifiably attacked,” he said.
Mokadi’s appeal is likely to take place after a new council is appointed. It will be chaired by a Johannesburg attorney who specialises in labour law.
Both Mokadi and the Public Protector, Selby Baqwa, have lodged complaints with the Press Council about the M&G’s coverage of the technikon saga.
The newspaper reported that Baqwa and his office sent several letters to the council’s lawyers, raising concerns about the treatment being meted out to Mokadi. Baqwa’s office also tried to secure legal aid for Mokadi.