Fort Hare Crisis Signals Deepening Accountability Failure at the Highest Levels
- Onicca Mosime
- 15 hours ago
- 2 min read
Moria, Boyne, Polokwane. Friday, 3 April 2026 — Public Interest SA expresses deep concern regarding the latest developments at the University of Fort Hare, as reported by the Mail & Guardian today. The unfolding events are not merely an institutional dispute — they represent a profound test of South Africa’s commitment to the rule of law.
The reported suspension of Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, despite findings that allegedly point to no wrongdoing, signals a troubling disjuncture between evidence and administrative action. This raises serious concerns about whether due process is being upheld or subordinated to competing interests.
Equally concerning is the escalation of this matter to the level of the Presidency, with direct appeals to President Cyril Ramaphosa. This reflects a growing perception that institutional mechanisms are either compromised or incapable of delivering credible accountability.
The crisis at University of Fort Hare must be understood within a broader pattern: persistent allegations of corruption, intimidation, and systemic interference in governance processes.
These dynamics point to a weakening of lawful authority and the emergence of parallel systems of influence that operate outside the bounds of accountability.
From a Rule of Law perspective, three critical failures are evident:
Breakdown of Due Process: Administrative decisions that appear inconsistent with investigative findings undermine the foundational principle that actions must be grounded in evidence and fairness.
Institutional Capture Risks: The blurring of lines between governance, politics, and enforcement creates fertile ground for undue influence and selective application of accountability.
Erosion of Public Trust: When processes lack transparency and coherence, public confidence in institutions diminishes, weakening the social contract.
The rule of law demands more than rhetoric.
It requires that power be exercised within clearly defined legal frameworks, that decisions be rational and evidence-based, and that accountability mechanisms function without fear, favour, or prejudice.
Public Interest SA, through its Rule of Law Project, calls for the following urgent interventions:
Full Transparency: Immediate public release of all investigative findings by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) relating to corruption and governance failures at Fort Hare.
Procedural Integrity: A clear, lawful articulation of the basis for the suspension of the Vice-Chancellor, subject to independent review where necessary.
Independent Oversight: Strengthened, demonstrably independent investigative and prosecutorial processes insulated from political or institutional interference.
Whistleblower Protection: Robust, enforceable safeguards for individuals exposing wrongdoing, ensuring they are protected rather than persecuted.
Accountability Timelines: Public, time-bound commitments from all relevant authorities — including the Presidency — on actions to be taken and outcomes to be achieved.
This moment demands clarity: South Africa must decide whether its institutions will be governed by law or by expediency.
The situation at Fort Hare is not an anomaly — it is a warning. Without decisive intervention anchored in the rule of law, the risk is not only institutional decay, but the normalisation of impunity.
Public Interest SA will continue to advance its Accountability Tracker as a mechanism to monitor such cases, ensuring that commitments translate into measurable outcomes and that no institution is beyond scrutiny.
END
Issued by: Public Interest SA
