transformation
The vilification of Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, until she was hounded out of office on March 3, has pegged back the transformation gains witnessed by South Africa’s tertiary sector.
Phakeng was ousted in scenes reminiscent of the travails of Professor William Malegapuru Makgoba in his battle against the “gang of 13” academics who wanted him removed as deputy vice-chancellor at Wits University between 1995 and 1996.
They failed but not after bringing Wits to its knees with Makgoba telling the Times Higher Education Supplement he wanted the “dominant eurocentrism” at Wits replaced, describing those in charge as a “small, inbred elite”.
