The shock resignation last week of a top University of Durban-Westville (UDW) academic has generated allegations that dictatorial and erratic management on the part of the university’s new vice-chancellor, Dr Saths Cooper, endangers UDW’s impending high-profile merger with the University of Natal.
And UDW’s Students Representative Council (SRC) this week released a statement sharply critical of Cooper specifically and UDW management generally. Cooper has maintained that he has had full student backing since he assumed office six months ago.
These developments crown several months of simmering rebellion during which many senior UDW staff have told the Mail & Guardian that a number of high-level appointments made at Cooper’s instigation are illegitimate because the university’s own appointment procedures were not followed.
They claim that Cooper’s aim is to build a power base from which to bid competitively for leadership of the merged institution. Cooper denies this allegation.
Professor Pitika Ntuli resigned last week, a mere five months after his appointment as dean of students. He told the M&G this week that ”a number of highly respected black academics, on hearing about my appointment [in February], warned me that the appointment was tokenistic”.
”Concerned about these warnings, I raised the matter with [Cooper], who vehemently denied this allegation, and stressed his commitment to an African university.”
But there then ensued a ”process of interference with and undermining of” himself as dean of students, Ntuli says. During a bomb scare in February, while Cooper was away from the campus, management suspended lectures and asked Ntuli to address the students.
”Before I had finished, [Cooper] returned to campus, took over from me and spoke to the students, saying that if he had been around he would not have taken the decision that his management had taken.”
Cooper ”denies interfering with or undermining Prof Ntuli during his stint at the university”, said UDW spokesperson NomaVenda Matiane in response to M&G questions directed to Cooper. He also ”did not interrupt an address by Professor Ntuli to students in February this year”.
Ntuli maintains that this and numerous other incidents, which he has detailed for the M&G in writing, illustrate ”the disrespect I experienced personally” and says that ”this was commonplace and experienced by numerous colleagues”.
Matiane responds: ”It is objectionable and incorrect to state that Dr Cooper has been disrespectful to numerous colleagues. After Prof Ntuli’s media interviews appeared [last week], the deans and executive unanimously supported his leadership.”
There is now a ”climate of fear and intimidation” at UDW, Ntuli says. ”People who used to be robust cultivate careful silence now.” Numerous senior personnel have conveyed the same anxiety to the M&G since April.
”Dr Cooper has publicly in his many addresses to university constituencies encouraged open debate, which is particularly robust at UDW,” Matiane said this week. And executive director Professor Dasarath Chetty told the M&G last month that Cooper ”has unified the university community in a manner that is without precedent”.
Cooper’s ”obsession” has been to ”build an empire to position himself for the new job” as head of the merged institution, Ntuli claims. Other senior UDW staffers have made similar claims to the M&G, suggesting that this explains some questionable senior appointments and promotions.
”There has been no attempt by Dr Cooper to position himself for the new job as head of the new institution,” Matiane replied to the M&G. ”It seems as if Prof Ntuli is positioning himself for further employment by trashing UDW.”
This week’s SRC statement clearly distances the student body from Cooper and his management. It accuses the vice-chancellor and the management of reneging on their pledge ”to put the students first in everything”, and cites detailed examples of this.
It also accuses management of ”using many strategies in order to become popular amongst students” and of wanting ”uncritical support so that students are neutralised”. In addition, ”the SRC is disgusted” that Ntuli’s successor was appointed within hours of his resignation. The statement says the post was not advertised and no interview was held.
”It is suspicious that the appointment was influenced more by political expediency and a desperate need to artificially satisfy the colour line.”
The M&G invited Cooper to comment on the SRC statement. Matiane’s full reply reads: ”With regard to the SRC statement, the allegations made by the SRC serve as an indictment of [Ntuli] who was responsible for all the problematic areas mentioned.”
Cooper’s leadership intentions appear to have changed since he told the M&G in November last year: ”In a bizarre way, one year suits me … I have no desire to be the vice-chancellor of any new institution.”
He was speaking in the light of UDW’s backing down, apparently under government pressure, from its plan to appoint a new vice-chancellor for three years. The M&G reported then that the UDW council had decided to offer a one-year contract only. Cooper, then a member of the council, was one of five shortlisted candidates.
The M&G asked Cooper again in April about his leadership intentions. Chetty replied on his behalf: ”When you spoke to the vice-chancellor last year he was focused on the tasks at hand. The vice-chancellor … finds it invidious to get involved in future scenarios that have not yet been determined. The vice-chancellor is, however, committed to continuing to contribute to a smooth merger process and is at the same time mindful of the dearth of talent available for leadership roles in academia.”
When the M&G last month asked Cooper whether this answer does indeed register a shift in his intentions, Chetty answered: ”The vice-chancellor has always been clear that the new institution deserves the best candidates for the available positions. Should he be approached to be a candidate for a leadership position he would consider it at the time. His statements in this regard are clear and a matter of public record, although certain constituencies have expressed such preference for the vice-chancellor.”
Further concerns among UDW senior staff centre on the impact some senior appointments, and some promotions, could have on the success of UDW’s impending merger with the University of Natal. In particular, government merger guidelines require that institutions working towards a merger agree to put a moratorium on appointments and promotions.
Natal and UDW signed an agreement last month in terms of which any such appointments and promotions are subject to joint agreement. But the M&G understands that there has been no discussion between the two universities about the appointments and promotions in question.
For its part, the University of Natal has adhered to ”the spirit and the letter” of the memorandum, says vice-chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba.
On UDW’s side, Chetty says all the senior appointments and promotions were procedural in terms of UDW regulations and also adhere to the memorandum of agreement. And ”the vice-chancellor has not sought to create a power base from which to bid for leadership of the merged institution”.
Despite detailed correspondence, the M&G has been unable to obtain clear confirmation from Dr Namane Magau, the chairperson of UDW’s council (the university’s highest decision-making body), that the appointments adhere to UDW’s regulations — especially those that clearly require council approval.
Makgoba told the M&G this week: ”The resignation of Prof Pitika Ntuli is of great concern and a loss to both our institutions. However, to expect the birth of a great new African institution without pains is also unrealistic. So far our merger process has been on track and by all assessments will succeed despite this setback. I am fully committed and have laser-focused myself on the principles and integrity of the merger process.
”It would boost morale and trust greatly if a speedy resolution to this barrage of unrelenting and snowballing allegations could be found by UDW. Failure to resolve these has the potential to undermine the integrity and progress of our merger process.”
Meanwhile, Cooper’s predecessor, Professor Rampule Ramashala, has announced that she is to sue Cooper and e.tv for R3-million each for defamation. The Natal Witness reported this week that the litigation arises from remarks Cooper made on e.tv news last month about Ramashala’s alleged role in a R70-million loan and investment deal made while she was UDW vice-chancellor. Matiane told the M&G this week: ”Dr Cooper confirms a letter has been received from Professor Ramashala’s lawyers and that he has not defamed her, neither has he any intentions of defaming her. He has instituted an investigation [into the loan] and not a witch-hunt.”