The University of Fort Hare faces intensifying governance turmoil as Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu has been formally charged with gross misconduct, insubordination, and bringing the institution into disrepute. The charges stem from an investigation into the appointment of two executive directors and follow Buhlungu’s precautionary suspension earlier this year.
Azole Ntloko, President of the University of Fort Hare Student Representative Council (SRC), stated that stabilising the institution has proven difficult in the wake of the suspension. While students initially welcomed the precautionary suspension—hoping it would halt alleged student victimization—Ntloko confirmed that concerns over student treatment persist even in the Vice-Chancellor’s absence.
“The student body was very happy with the precautionary suspension,” Ntloko said, noting that the move was seen as a step toward ending victimization. However, he emphasized that disciplinary cases against students, sometimes based on disputed evidence, continue to mount. The SRC is currently working to secure legal representation for affected students, some of whom have been suspended.
Students have expressed frustration over the prolonged timeline of the disciplinary process. Ntloko questioned whether delays serve a procedural purpose or reflect deeper governance dysfunction. He noted that the university council’s decision to suspend Buhlungu was made by majority vote, with minority objections not reflected in public communications.
A forensic report into the executive appointments reportedly identified procedural irregularities but found no evidence of fraud or corruption. Ntloko explained that Buhlungu had acknowledged an error in the appointment process and expressed a preference for the council to have addressed the matter internally rather than escalating to a formal investigation. “He wished that the council could have handled it in a manner that recognized there was a mistake,” Ntloko said.
Beyond the leadership crisis, students face significant administrative challenges related to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). Ntloko outlined multiple concerns: allegations of “ghost students” and financial irregularities involving allowance distribution partners; delayed communication of appeal outcomes affecting student funding; and a split payment structure for book allowances that complicates purchases of textbooks and laptops.
Accommodation shortages have worsened under NSFAS’s pilot project, particularly in East London, where multiple tertiary institutions compete for the same housing resources without clear allocation frameworks. “Students end up sleeping in lecture halls because accommodation spaces are not really there,” Ntloko said. Additionally, a recent “gap investigation” by NSFAS resulted in students not receiving allowances this month, without prior notification to student leadership.
Ntloko called for external support to help protect students’ rights and urged university governance structures to prioritize transparency and timely resolution. “We are trying so hard to regain the integrity of this historic institution,” he said, expressing hope that the acting Vice-Chancellor’s leadership and an expedited disciplinary hearing would help restore public confidence.
As Fort Hare navigates this complex period, student leaders continue to advocate for accountability, procedural clarity, and an end to practices they say undermine both educational access and institutional stability.
