Former Judge President John Myburgh would conduct a formal inquiry into the conduct and performance of University of the Witwatersrand Vice-Chancellor Norma Reid Birley, the university’s council said in a statement on Wednesday.
”The inquiry, which will commence as soon as possible, will also include all matters relating to or arising from the appraisal of Professor Reid Birley’s performance,” the council said.
”The chair of the inquiry is empowered to recommend to Council any appropriate remedial measures. Council has requested Myburgh to report his findings by Friday, December 6, 2002.”
Wits’ council resolved last week on Friday to hold the inquiry.
”Council gave Reid Birley the opportunity to accept a dignified, mutually agreed termination of her contract.
However, she declined this offer,” the statement said.
The inquiry’s proceedings would be confidential and both Wits and Reid Birley would be entitled to be legally represented.
In a second statement issued by Wits, but on behalf of Reid Birley, the beleaguered vice chancellor
”refuted vigorously” allegations levelled against her, saying ”there is no financial settlement that I will accept in lieu of a principled resolution,
affirming my integrity, professional ability and commitment to leading this university.”
She said the inquiry was the result of, what she called, an unsubstantiated attack on her competence and person made by the chairman of the university council, Edwin Cameron, during which he expressed
”his extreme dissatisfaction at the way I am managing the University”.
Reid Birley said she was given no notice that such a statement was to be made.
”It apparently drew on his interpretation of information that he had either solicited or obtained from a few members of staff, both senior and junior, at the most senior level of the university,” she
said in her response.
”Neither written nor verbal evidence was provided, nor was a prima facie case for the statement’s claims provided. I have so far refrained from answering, to try to protect the university from disruption, and in the hope that sense might soon prevail.
”The gist of the statement, which was wholly devoid of specific allegations, was that my way of working with senior colleagues was unacceptable. The statement
also questioned my integrity.
”There is no financial settlement that I will accept in lieu of a principled resolution, affirming my integrity, professional ability and commitment to leading this university,” she insisted. – Sapa