News

UKZN set tribunal for Makgoba, Maphai probe

Published

The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) on Monday announced that retired judge Alan Magid would head a tribunal to investigate claims of sexual harassment and victimisation involving the vice

chancellor and chairperson of the university council.

In a statement released to the university community, it was also announced that Thandi Orleyn and Professor Christina Murray would

be the other two members of the tribunal.

Magid is a retired judge from the KwaZulu-Natal provincial division.

Murray is department head at the University of Cape Town's Public Law and Director of the Law, Race & Gender Research Unit.

Orleyn is a practising attorney and former chief executive of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Last week vice chancellor Professor Malegapuru Makgoba took leave of absence, while council chairman Dr Vincent Maphai has stood down.

During a press conference last Tuesday the university council's vice chairman Mac Mia said the university council had decided to appoint the tribunal to investigate allegations of "sexual

harassment, gender discrimination and victimisation" made by Professor Pumela Msweli-Mbanga, the dean and acting deputy vice

chancellor of the college of law and management.

The tribunal has also been tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the awarding of a Master of Commerce degree to UKZN's chief financial officer, Professor Kanthan Pillay,

by Msweli-Mbanga.

Mia told the press conference last week that the tribunal would investigate whether the awarding of Pillay's degree was irregular and would determine "whether or not there are uniform policies and

procedures for the examination and assessment of dissertations and theses at UKZN". - Sapa