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EDWIN NAIDU
JUST over a year after Professor Dan Kgwadi was appointed vice-chancellor of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT), he told Inside Education this week that he has been dismissed following a 14-day sick leave.
“The Chairperson called me on Friday and informed me that I would be on special leave, pending delivery of the dismissal details in a letter,” he said.
On Friday, Council Chairperson Professor Mandla Radebe announced that Prof Kgwadi had been placed on special leave.
However, Professor Kgwadi, who has experienced problems with a knee/leg for over a year and consulted medics to no avail, posted details on Facebook about his dismissal.
“I have just been dismissed from work due to a 14-day sick leave (5 days hospitalisation). Apparently, that contributes to my lack of performance and probation issues. Going for a labour court race,” he wrote.
In a previous post, the former North-West University vice-chancellor said: “I almost believed that I am bewitched and about to consult traditionally. Your prayers worked.”
Registrar, Dr Dan Mokoena, will serve as acting vice-chancellor and principal.
Professor Kgwadi was appointed vice-chancellor on 4 February 2022, ending two years of instability during which VUT was under administration.
A new council was appointed in August 2022.
“Council would like to reiterate its commitment to the principles of good governance to ensure that VUT remains at the forefront of producing highly dedicated and qualified cohorts of graduate students,” he said.
A former schoolteacher born in Kraaipan in the North West, Prof Kgwadi became the first Black vice-chancellor of the North-West University in 2014 when incumbent Theuns Eloff resigned after first-year students gave him a Hitler salute.
In April 2018, Prof Kgwadi had a heart attack but stayed on until he announced on 7th November 2021 that he was leaving.
“All the success I achieved at North-West University and elsewhere was accomplished as a collective effort,” he said during his inauguration at VUT, adding that his wish was to ensure that the institution works to escape the “shade of corruption” associated with VUT. “Corruption is behind us. No more administration” was the key message during his installation as vice-chancellor.
Prof Radebe thanked students, staff and management for their dedication to this vision.
Prof Kgwadi, meanwhile, said he would challenge his dismissal.
INSIDE EDUCATION