Fort Hare: new Chancellor and Vice Chancellor

Human rights crusader Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza has been appointed as the new chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, reports City Press. Ntsebeza’s appointment follows the death of former sport minister and reverend, Dr Makhenkesi Stofile, who held the position briefly.

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Ntsebeza was admitted as an attorney in 1984, practising in the Eastern Cape, mainly in the area of human rights. In 1995 he was appointed one of the commissioners of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He is a founder of South African National Association of Democratic Lawyers and served as its president. Ntsebeza also served as president of South Africa’s Black Lawyers Association.

Since October 2012, Ntsebeza has represented the 36 families of striking miners at the Marikana Commission of Inquiry. The miners were killed by the police in Marikana in August 2012.

The university also appointed Professor Sakhela Buhlungu as vice-chancellor and rector in November last year.

Buhlungu, who was the dean of humanities at the University of Western Cape, replaced former Fort Hare vice-chancellor Dr Mvuyo Tom, whose contract came to an end in December last year.

The 100-year-old university said in June that it was looking for a vice chancellor who would "build its strategic leadership and enhance its unique position within industry‚ government and international standing".

Buhlungu obtained his BA at the University of Transkei in 1982 before getting his honours at UCT and then his masters and PhD at Wits. He was previously a Professor of Sociology at the universities of Pretoria‚ Johannesburg and Wits. The former teacher from Manzana High School‚ Engcobo‚ Eastern Cape (1983 - 1984) also worked as an assistant general secretary of the Cosatu-affiliated Paper‚ Printing‚ Wood & Allied Workers' Union (PPWAWU).