The High Court in Pretoria has ordered that the appointment of Professor Mandla Makhanya as vice-chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa) must be reviewed, the Sunday Times reported.
This comes after Professor Themba Sono, a member of the university’s 30-member council and president of its convocation, asked the court to review and set aside Makhanya’s appointment to the top position.
According to the paper, Sono claimed that Makhanya’s appointment had been “unfair” and “unprocedural”.
Sono contended that Makhanya was the second preferred candidate, after Professor David Mosoma, to fill the post.
The position will become vacant as the current vice-chancellor, Professor Barney Pityana, retires at the end of the month.
In court documents Sono argued that a “proper application of minds of the council should have led to the appointment of Mosoma”.
Another irregularity was that Pityana exercised his right to vote despite the fact that Makhanya had listed him as a referee on his CV.
Pityana has indicated that Unisa was opposed to the review application, the newspaper reported. – Sapa