Universiteit_van_Fort_Hare_ingang

Civil society stands together to safeguard historic University of Fort Hare

Following the recent harrowing destruction and arson at the University of Fort Hare (UFH), over 30 organisations based in the Eastern Cape, and over 140 organisations and individuals across the country, have come together to reclaim and safeguard this historic institution, and call for democratic values to be restored and upheld.

These organisations and individuals are deeply committed to the renewal of the Eastern Cape province, to building transparent and accountable institutions, strengthening responsive and ethical governance, and nurturing an active citizenry in line with the values of South Africa’s Constitution.

What has unfolded at UFH is deeply disturbing. For several years, the university’s community, led by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, has been engaged in an arduous and courageous process of renewal, tackling entrenched corruption, rebuilding systems, and restoring integrity to one of South Africa’s most historic institutions.

The recent destruction and arson at UFH wiped out millions of rands of investment including a brand new student health clinic, staff centre and refurbished laboratories. We are gravely concerned that criminal networks are attempting to destabilise this public institution to protect corrupt interests. Such actions are not only attacks on the university, but attacks on South Africa’s democracy and constitutional order.

It is particularly alarming that these violent incidents have emerged as the Special Investigating Unit’s reports probing corruption at Fort Hare are proceeding to prosecution. The possibility that these acts represent sabotage or retaliation against ongoing anti-corruption efforts is deeply troubling.

At the same time, we recognise the legitimate right of students to raise their concerns, organise, and undertake peaceful protest, rights that are enshrined in our Constitution and essential to democracy.

We call for calm, reflection, and dialogue, and urge all parties to engage in a solution-oriented process that strengthens the institution rather than tears it apart.

We call for a full and transparent investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the acts of arson and violence, and for accountability at every level.

We call on the university leadership to extend an olive branch to all members of the university community, students, staff, and management alike, to work together towards an effective, institutionalised process for engagement and renewal.

We call on broader Eastern Cape communities to stand up, protect, and reclaim Fort Hare as a key public institution that belongs to all of us, and whose integrity and future must be safeguarded.

Finally, we call on the Department of Higher Education and Training, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, and all relevant state bodies to unequivocally support the ongoing fight against corruption, and ensure support and protection for the leadership driving it.

Professor Buhlungu and others have demonstrated remarkable resolve in the face of immense personal risk and sacrifice. The sustained efforts to clean up UFH, despite intimidation, violence, and loss, reflect the kind of leadership that our country so urgently needs.

We stand with all those in the Eastern Cape who are committed to honest governance and institutional renewal.

It is time for accountability to be strengthened, not undermined; for integrity to be protected, not punished.

We stand with the University of Fort Hare.

We stand for justice, renewal, honest leadership and the future of the Eastern Cape.

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact:

Clayton Morar

Email: claytonmorar@gmail.com

Phone: 074 194 1766

Eastern Cape Organisations

  • Adelaide Advice Center

  • Afesis

  • Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics, Rhodes University

  • Alwande Ulwazi Community Advice Center

  • Bizana Advice Centre

  • BlaqChild Development Foundation

  • Border Rural Committee

  • CALUSA

  • Cambridge Development Forum

  • CARE Alicedale

  • Educare Mpame

  • Entlango Primary Agricultural Cooperative

  • Equality Collective

  • Farmers Network South Africa

  • Flagstaff Paralegal Advice Office

  • Interchurch Local Development Agency

  • Khanyisa Education and Development Trust

  • Labour Community Media Forum (LCMF)

  • PHAKAMA EC Civic Movement

  • Phumalanga Community Development Project for the Aged

  • Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM)

  • Rising Dawn Reflections

  • Siyanakekela Community Development

  • Social Change Assistance Trust

  • Tyinira Rural Development Initiative

  • Umhlaba Yimpilo

  • Unemployed Peoples Movement

  • Vulamasang Singene

  • Xhalanga Civic Platform (Cala)

  • Zanoncedo Empowerment Centre

National Organisations

  • Ahmed Kathrada Foundation

  • Black Sash

  • Centre for Applied Legal Studies

  • Cognitive Connections ECD Forum

  • Corruption Watch

  • Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution

  • Defend Our Democracy

  • Impact4Good

  • Institute for Economic Justice

  • Institute of Training and Education for Capacity-building

  • Lawyers for Human rights

  • Legal Resources Centre (LRC)

  • Neil Aggett Labour Studies Unit (NALSU)

  • New Agenda: South African Journal of Social and Economic Policy

  • Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA)

  • Pan African Bar Association South Africa

  • Phambily Analytics

  • Rural Womens Assembly (RWA)

  • Trust for Community Outreach and Education

  • #UniteBehind

  • Zabalaza Pathways Institute

Individuals

  • Zackie Achmat

  • Lara Aucamp

  • Margaret Auerbach

  • Bruce Baigrie

  • Robert John Balfour

  • Prof. Chris Ballantine

  • Ihsaan Bassier

  • Umesh Bawa

  • Deena Bosch

  • Jill Bradbury

  • Ryan Brunette

  • Geoff Budlender SC

  • Joshua Budlender

  • Mary Burton

  • Nosicelo Buwa

  • Paula Cardoso

  • Cheryl Carolus

  • Prof. Emeritus Halton Cheadle

  • Aninka Claassens

  • Hugh Corder

  • Morna Cornell

  • Ben Cousins

  • Anele Davids

  • Ezra Davids

  • Lois Dippenaar

  • Paula Ensor

  • Gabriel Espi-Sanchis

  • Michael Evans

  • Doret Ferreira

  • Ilse Fischer Wilson

  • Dick Forslund

  • Litha Gcwabe

  • Luvuyo Gobodo

  • Viwe Gqwetha

  • Pamela Haddaf

  • Ian Hanson

  • Nick Hedley

  • Barbara Hogan

  • Rachel Holmes

  • Yvette Ismail

  • Karen Jack

  • Loretta Jacobus

  • Naseegh Jaffer

  • Feziwe Jaji

  • Lulu Johnson

  • Lerumo Kalako

  • Margaret Kiloh

  • Prof. G. Klerck

  • Lisa Komoreng (née Buwa)

  • Wayne Kretschmer

  • Prof. Premesh Lalu

  • Leonard le Roux

  • Murray Leibbrandt

  • Moira Levy

  • Kezia Lewins

  • Jack Lewis

  • Aretha Linden

  • Leslie London

  • Chumani Lungisa

  • Phumezo Lupuwana

  • Roy Maartens

  • Shuaib Manjra

  • C Martens

  • Likhona Mbali

  • Malcolm McCarthy

  • Dr Dale McKinley

  • Thobeka Mda

  • Sinazo Mdleleni-Babane

  • Murray Michell

  • Bongani Miza

  • Bongani Mizs

  • Prof. Nomalanga Mkhize

  • Nazeema Mohamed

  • Reno Morar

  • Simthembile Mvondobi

  • Prema Naidoo

  • Lwazi Ncapayi

  • Fani Ncapayi

  • Victor Ngaleka

  • Nosipho Ngcume

  • Martha Ngoye

  • Martin Nicol

  • Mercy Nqandeka

  • Mbali Ntuli

  • Di Oliver

  • Crispian Olver

  • Ayesha Omar

  • Carilee Osborne

  • Taryn Pereira

  • Suntosh R. Pillay

  • Lyndal Pottier

  • Geordie Ractliffe

  • Vimal Ranchhod

  • Luke Reid

  • Amanda Rinquest

  • Cris Robertson

  • Michael Rogan

  • Neil Roos

  • Eureta Rosenberg

  • Nicky Rousseau

  • PJ Schwikkard

  • Anna Selmeczi

  • William Shoki

  • Khumo Shuenyane

  • NomaSwazi Sibanyoni

  • Pumza Siqiti

  • Diane Steyn

  • Ibrahim Steyn

  • Rev Alan Storey

  • James Taylor

  • Lindiwe Tukane

  • Shereen Usdin

  • Inge van Reenen

  • Siphendulwe Vela

  • Zukiswa Vuka

  • Fiona Wallace

  • Shirley Walters

  • Matthew Weaver

  • Tim Wilson

  • Nanette Yeld

  • Nimrod Zalk

  • Prof. Gordon Ndodomzi Zide