Fear tactics, intimidation, victimisation at Fort Hare

The once-illustrious University of Fort Hare has been in the headlines for Capture by a Corruption Mafia. But despite a spate of arrests, there has been no return to normality at the institution with governance being "almost non-existent". In this interview with BizNews, Grant Abbott, the General Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, and suspended SRC President Aphelele Khalakahla lay bare the culture of intimidation that now persists. “There is a prevailing sense of fear on campus…victimisation that continues against staff and against students. You would think that by now, with things at an advanced stage in terms of the court processes, with all the people that have been arrested that things will start normalising at the university, but it's actually not. It's continuing - and I would even say it's getting worse… Anyone who wants to speak out gets silenced,” charges Abbott. Khalakahla says: “We knew that obviously, even if we use university processes and escalate matters within the sector, we are going to be victimised. I am going to be the first victim. Calling for the head of Vice-Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, Abbott says: “…he needs to be relieved of his position with immediate effect. And if that doesn't happen, then the Minister needs to act.”