Two lecturers of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have been fired because of sexual harassment.
Two lecturers of the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) have been fired because of sexual harassment.
In a statement released last Thursday Wits vice chancellor Prof Adam Habib wrote: “The staff members have been found guilty of sexual harassment and misconduct, and one of them has also been found guilty of sexual/indecent assault.”
After a hearing by an independent senior counsel, both lecturers were found to be in breach of the University’s Sexual Harassment Policy, Relationship Guidelines and Code of Conduct.
Experts believe that neither case has much ground for appeal as the hearings were detailed and comprehensive.
Habib publicly apologised on behalf of the university to the victims, saying that the university does not tolerate any form of sexual harassment.
The statement declined to name the two accused, but the student newspaper Wits Vuvuzela released their names in an online article.
They are former senior Drama lecturer Tsepo wa Mamatu and former Media Studies senior lecturer Dr. Last Moyo.
Wa Mamtu had been sent on “special leave” following accusations by former Wits students of rape and sexual harassment in the Sunday Times.
After publication, Wits Media Studies students came forward with the allegations against Moyo.
Earlier this year, the contract of Wits Drama lecturer Norman Xoli’s was cancelled after verified accusations of sexual harassment at his former employer, the University of KwaZulu Natal.
Wits is currently conducting two campus-wide inquiries into sexual harassment.
The first asked students to come forward with complaints of sexual harassment by staff.
The second, led by Head of the Centre of Applied Legal Studies, Professor Bonita Meyersfeld and Joe Mothibi from Norton Rose Fulbright, has the objective “ to conduct an assessment of the existing policies and procedures of the University, for the purpose of preventing instances of sexual harassment,” wrote Habib.
Two more cases of sexual harassment at Wits are still being investigated. An announcement on their outcome is expected in the next fortnight.
