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By Thapelo Molefe
The University of Fort Hare continues to grapple with allegations of corruption and academic fraud, with Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu and other officials providing updates on investigations and institutional reforms during a meeting with Parliament’s committee on higher education this week.
Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie sought clarity on the status of recommendations from a departmental team meant to support the university’s turnaround strategy.
A representative from the Department of Higher Education confirmed that while the team has diminished due to resignations, it remained active, consisting of senior directors and infrastructure experts.
The team was monitoring the university’s projects and engaging in governance oversight.
The representative noted that legal concerns surrounding a probe by the Special Investigating Unit probe had strained relations at times.
The SIU is investigating nine charges against the university mostly concerning maladministration and malpractices.
The representative said that frequent engagement with the university had ensured continuous progress, including improvements in infrastructure and council restructuring under a new statute adopted post-administration in 2019.
The vice-chancellor elaborated on the reforms, noting a reduction of council members from 27 to 22 and the implementation of a consolidated turnaround plan.
The university is now preparing for its second council term post-administration, with new ministerial appointments underway.
Buhlungu reiterated the complexities of the SIU’s investigation, which now spans qualifications issued as far back as 2004. While the SIU operates independently and reports directly to President Cyril Ramaphosa, its findings will have have far-reaching implications.
“Meetings between the SIU and university stakeholders have shed light on fraudulent qualifications across honour’s, master’s, and doctoral programmes, as well as irregularities in law and health sciences faculties,” he said.
Buhlungu likened the investigation to “heart surgery,” emphasising that the process, though painful, was vital for restoring credibility to the university.
Recent media reports about a R1 million fraud scheme linked to the former CEO of two Setas, Raymond Patel, were also addressed.
“Patel, now accused number 17 in a broader corruption case, allegedly collaborated with the university’s former HR director to orchestrate bogus psychometric tests for staff,” Buhlungu said.
“The scheme involved kickbacks funnelled through Patel’s company, as revealed by the national task team investigating fraud at Fort Hare.”
Buhlungu expressed surprise at Patel’s involvement.
The investigators, however, have built a strong case through detailed financial audits and traced transactions linked to the fraud.
During the meeting this week, Buhlungu acknowledged institutional weaknesses that had allowed questionable recruitment practices to thrive in the university system.
He emphasised that such flaws predated his tenure and had been highlighted in the independent assessor’s report.
“In some places, there were no policies. Yes, we’ve investigated that that person, that professor, didn’t do it by himself. It was a system.
“It was a system that was weak, and that’s why the SIU is now going back to 2005 to trace the roots of these institutional weaknesses,” Buhlungu said.
The inquiry also discussed the controversial hiring of Isaac Plaatjies as director of investigations, allegedly without a formal process.
Buhlungu clarified that Plaatjies had been engaged through short-term contracts in HR before being appointed as the director. However, he admitted the process bypassed standard competitive hiring procedures.
“Yes, there was no interview at that time, but we assumed that because he was an insider… he was something to be trusted. And of course, we were wrong,” he said.
Further complicating the matter, Plaatjies is now a suspect in the assassination of Buhlungu’s bodyguard and alleged attempts on the VC’s life.
The committee chairperson expressed concerns over governance issues.
“If indeed this happens or is allowed in our institutions, then we have a problem. It means tomorrow, if I’m the vice-chancellor, I can employ my girlfriend’s family and say, you know, introduce them and say it’s short term,” Letsie stated.
Concerns about nepotism were also raised regarding the hiring of the wife of the CFO in the HR department without a competitive process.
While Buhlungu acknowledged her employment, he deferred responsibility, claiming the appointment was at a lower level and did not require his direct oversight.
The university’s recently appointed Deputy VC for Institutional Support, Lufuno Hashatse, admitted to uncovering irregularities tied to past HR management, including those linked to a former HR director who is now under arrest.
He added that efforts were underway to overhaul HR practices, with permanent roles now being advertised and filled following standard procedures.
The committee requested a full report on the appointment process for HR, including minutes, technical specifications and evidence of due diligence due this week.
The inquiry also delved into concerns raised by the Student Representative Council, including their underrepresentation in university governance structures like Senate.
They highlighted infrastructure shortcomings and dissatisfaction with digital voting systems for SRC elections.
In response, Buhlungu emphasised ongoing efforts to address governance challenges and implement recommendations from the independent assessor’s report.
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