(FXI/IFEX) – The new vice chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa) and former chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Barney Pityana, who oversaw the hearings into racism in the media, has accused the “Mail and Guardian” newspaper of racism and is threatening to take it to court for defamation. In the […]
(FXI/IFEX) – The new vice chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa) and former chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission, Barney Pityana, who oversaw the hearings into racism in the media, has accused the “Mail and Guardian” newspaper of racism and is threatening to take it to court for defamation.
In the 24 May 2002 issue of the “Mail and Guardian”, it was reported that extravagant spending has wiped out hard-won financial gains at Unisa.
According to the newspaper, Unisa is spending millions of rands on Pityana’s accommodation in a stately historic mansion in Pretoria, which is to be renovated at the cost of about R2-million (approx. US$204,600). The university had just sold the property at the time Pityana arrived and had to pay R1.7-million (approx. US$173,900) to extricate itself from the sale. The newspaper also reported that refurbishment of Pityana’s offices on campus will cost the university another R1.5-million (approx. US$153,400).
The newspaper made further allegations that the university management and council team organised a trip to Mauritius, where Pityana and council chairperson McCaps Motimele travelled first-class. It also alleges that the university spent more than R200,000 (approx. US$20,500) on Pityana’s inauguration ceremony in early 2002.
On Tuesday 28 May, Pityana denied the “Mail and Guardian”‘s claims that he was squandering university funds, saying the report was part of a racist campaign to discredit him and other black university leaders.
