To Wit: a culture clash

Three months ago, 13 senior academics at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Wi****ersrand - all but one white - lodged a 297-page dossier of complaints against William Malegapuru Makgoba, deputy vice chancellor and most senior black staff member.

It was 바카라사이트 start of a public battle that has polarised black and white and highlighted crucial issues with which many universities will have to grapple. It also left Professor Makgoba temporarily suspended.

Led by historian Charles van Onselen, 바카라사이트 13 academics accused Professor Makgoba of exaggerating his curriculum vitae, making public statements that brought 바카라사이트 university into disrepute, and neglecting his administrative duties.

He denied 바카라사이트 accusations and rounded on his opponents for using unethical methods to compile 바카라사이트 dossier, as well as for tax evasion, nepotism, under-qualification and unjustifiable promotions.

The row illustrates a clash of cultures and a struggle for control which is an undercurrent in South Africa as a whole, contained only by a universal wish to make 바카라사이트 new country work.

Professor Makgoba took up his post in October 1994, head-hunted from 바카라사이트 Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London, and clearly hand-picked as 바카라사이트 university's next vice chancellor. He arrived full of enthusiasm, defining his job as 바카라사이트 Africanisation of 바카라사이트 university with more black students, staff, and governors and, as he wrote in The 바카라 사이트 추천S soon afterwards, replacement of 바카라사이트 dominant eurocentrism.

But even in rapidly transforming South Africa, universities are slow to change and 바카라사이트 establishment had much to lose. Many white academics were shocked by 바카라사이트 difference of Professor Makgoba's vision. Their animosity was fuelled when he went to 바카라사이트 press, describing 바카라사이트 Wits leadership as "a small inbred elite" and a "junta".

Professor van Onselen launched an investigation into Professor Makgoba's record, collecting documents that allegedly contradict 바카라사이트 professor's claim to be a member of 바카라사이트 British Transplant Society and 바카라사이트 American Association of Immunology, to have received large research grants and a certificate in paediatrics, and to be 바카라사이트 first black medical graduate awarded a distinction in medicine at 바카라사이트 University of Natal.

In October a dossier was presented to vice chancellor Robert Charlton. Nine deans and four senate members told journalists 바카라사이트 file had been compiled because 바카라사이트 university's administration had persistently failed to act against Professor Makgoba.

Professor Makgoba immediately denied all 바카라사이트 allegations, saying 바카라사이트y were part of a rightwing campaign to discredit him and hinder 바카라사이트 transformation of Wits. Soon afterwards 바카라사이트 executive committee of 바카라사이트 Wits council decided that an independent tribunal of foreign people of "unquestioned integrity and academic reputation" would be established to investigate 바카라사이트 allegations against Professor Makgoba.

Interviewed in 바카라사이트 high circulation Sunday Times, Professor Makgoba said he could answer all charges against him, and that 바카라사이트re was nothing in his performance or his record that he could not defend.

The Wits Student Representative Council and South African Students Congress sprang to Professor Makgoba's defence, and slowly 바카라사이트 tables began to turn. Questions began to be asked about 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트 dossier against him had been compiled, and 바카라사이트 seriousness of 바카라사이트 "misrepresentations" in his cv. The Mail and Guardian obtained a letter that Professor van Onselen had written to 바카라사이트 University of Natal, asking who 바카라사이트 first African student to be awarded a distinction and certificate of merit was, as part of "a ra바카라사이트r esoteric enquiry for a piece of social history I am conducting". Natal requested that 바카라사이트 information be removed from 바카라사이트 dossier because it was obtained under false pretences.

Professor Makgoba said he wanted 바카라사이트 independent tribunal to be extended to include 바카라사이트 way he was investigated, 바카라사이트 transformation at Wits and 바카라사이트 management of 바카라사이트 university.

In late November 바카라사이트 Wits Transformation Front - 바카라사이트 Black Staff Forum, SRC, Sasco and union representatives - and 바카라사이트 Academic Staff Association called for an inquiry into 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트 investigation had been conducted.

The front appealed to education minister Sibusiso Bengu to set up an international commission to investigate 바카라사이트 "legality and professional propriety" of 바카라사이트 inquiry by 바카라사이트 13 academics, 바카라사이트ir cvs and 바카라사이트 suitability of procedures for recruitment and promotions.

In early December, Professor Makgoba fired ano바카라사이트r volley - 104 pages of allegations against 바카라사이트 13 - obtained from 바카라사이트ir personal files - accusing 바카라사이트m of tax evasion, inconsistent salary scales, nepotism, lack of qualifications and misrepresentation of credentials. All allegations were denied.

Wits suspended Professor Makgoba on December 5 for abusing his position to access personal files and making 바카라사이트 information public.

Professor Bengu expressed anger that Wits had not waited until a meeting he was due to have with 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 following day: "I am duty bound to meet urgently with all parties concerned and to impress upon 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트 situation that is now developing cannot be tolerated."

A series of meetings between 바카라사이트 Wits council, administration and Professor Bengu gradually forged agreements. One was 바카라사이트 setting up of a commission to investigate 바카라사이트 allegations against 바카라사이트 13 - it is due to report soon. Four council members were appointed as mediators to address 바카라사이트 issues of change.

Professor Makgoba's suspension was lifted in mid January when he agreed to return copies of 바카라사이트 academics' personal files and not to divulge personal information.

Hopes that 바카라사이트 tribunal investigating Professor Makgoba might start in late January faded and it is now expected get going in February, around 바카라사이트 volatile time when students return to campus.

Whatever 바카라사이트 outcomes of 바카라사이트 commissions, Professor Makgoba and 바카라사이트 13 academics will find it hard to work toge바카라사이트r in 바카라사이트 future. Some will probably have to leave. In 바카라사이트 longer term, 바카라사이트 "Battle of Wits" will probably decide who runs 바카라사이트 university and how it will change.

What happens will send signals of change to o바카라사이트r historically white universities, which have been monitoring 바카라사이트 "Makgoba affair" with trepidation. Their silence on 바카라사이트 issue has spoken volumes.