Sowetan reports that the breakdown in relations between the vice-chancellor of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and a senior director has led to the latter walking away with a R4m settlement.  

Mpho Diago left with a settlement worth two years of his salary and his ongoing studies being paid for.  He and the vice-chancellor, Professor Gordon Zide, have been clashing since 2017 when Zide was appointed as head of VUT.  The settlement states that their working relationship had broken down and both agreed to “terminate the employment contract and resolve [their] dispute”.  Diago was paid out last week and left the university.  He has withdrawn a CCMA case of victimisation.  A university spokesperson said senior HR staff and management had tried to resolve issues between the two, but Diago would not “smoke a peace pipe”.  In November, Diago complained in a letter to the VUT council about the running of the university and asked Minister of Higher Education Naledi Pandor to get involved.  He alleged fraud, mismanagement and breach of human resource policies.  He has now lodged a complaint at the public protector’s office and is waiting for the council to investigate the issues he raised, as ordered by Pandor.  He has handed over his alleged evidence to union Nehawu, which said last week it would send it to the minister, the ANC and the police.

• Read more of the Sowetan report on the above by Katharine Child at SA Labour News

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