DispatchLive reports that the celebration of a new era of leadership for the University of Fort Hare was marked by chaos on Wednesday amid protesting employees battling security.  

This was when National Education Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu) members disrupted the robing of the university’s new chancellor, Adv. Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, and vice-chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu.  The inaugurations at the Alice campus went ahead amid the chanting and protesting of employees.  Police were called in to control the crowd, and up to 10 police officers stood on the sides ready to intervene.  Nehawu deputy secretary Mzi Lingela said:  “We are here for attention.  We’ve been waiting for five months for a response.  The programme stops until this matter is resolved.  We want 10% and nothing else.”  The chairman of Nehawu at the university, Vuyani Booi, said there was a lack of seriousness and engagement from the university’s side, which had led to the “unfortunate turn of events”.  He also claimed that workers at the institution were the least-paid university employees across the country.

• Read this report by Nonsindiso Qwabe in full at DispatchLive

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