South Africa’s academic universe had plenty of drama this week, from Wits students going on protest and damaging facilities at the institution to the University of Johannesburg students joining them, right down to the DUT governing council asking the institutions vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng to go on leave “with immediate effect.”
The drama continues with the Central University of Technology (CUT) council suspending its chairperson, Matthew Rantso, over what has been described as a conflict of interest with Dr Malakoane, a former MEC of the Free State.
In a statement, the council chairperson, Charity Mbileni-Morema, confirmed the case while also noting that Rantso’s suspension is pending an investigation into the allegations made against him. In order words, the outcome of the investigation will determine what action the institution might take next. If it was found that he actually did nothing wrong and the claim of conflict of interest is out of place, then he might be restored back to his position,
Rantso was suspended shortly after the CUT picked a new vice-chancellor. How long the investigation into the alleged conflict of interest would last is unclear, but South Africans are watching keenly, with some of Rantso’s fans urging him to challenge his suspension in court.
