Alerts in South Africa
South African Professors Face Disciplinary Hearing
Action Alert
Date: 21 November 2008
Two eminent professors from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) in South Africa are facing disciplinary proceedings by the university after criticising the vice-chancellor in the media. John van den Berg, a professor of mathematics and Nithaya Chetty, a professor of physics, are accused of breaching a senate confidentiality clause.
Alert
Date: 31 May 2007
Fazel Khan, a sociology lecturer and staff-union leader at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, (UKZN) has been dismissed for allegedly “bringing the university into disrepute and thereby acting disloyally and in breach of the fiduciary duty which [he] owes to the University as its employee” by releasing damaging information to the news media.
Lecturer Faces Dismissal for Media-Interview
Alert
Date: 11 October 2006
Fazel Khan, a sociology lecturer at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), faces a disciplinary committee and possible a dismissal for an interview he gave to members of the media. The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI), a member of IFEX reports this is not an isolated case. The Organisation informs that in the past six months, there seems to be a certain fear in the University Staff (Academics, Students and Workers) in challenging or criticising the university administration.
Academic barred from seeking position at South African university
Alert
Date: 16 January 2006
Academic Ashwin Desai has been barred from taking any academic position at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His decision has prompted many academics to question academic freedom at the University. Several media articles report that the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Malegapuru William Makgoba, instructed the selection committee at the University of KwaZulu-Natal not to consider Ashwin's application for funding to undertake research on the history of race and sport in South Africa.
Criticism of University Administration Leads to Sacking
Alert
Date: 22 June 2001
In a letter to the Times Higher Education Supplement on 22 June 2001, Julian Cobbing, Paul Maylam and 51 other academics from Rhodes University (Eastern Cape, South Africa) expressed their concern over the treatment of three academics (two in South Africa and one in Australia) who lost their jobs as a result of criticising their universities.