Malegapuru William Makgoba
Encyclopedia
Malegapuru William Makgoba (born 1952 in Sekhukhune, South Africa
) is a South Africa
n immunologist, physician, public health advocate, academic and vice-chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
.
degree from the University of Natal Medical School
in 1976 and a DPhil degree in human immunogenetics from the University of Oxford
in 1983.
In 1999 he edited African Renaissance, a book recording the September 1998 Johannesburg conference on the African Renaissance
.
He has received many awards and distinctions including the 2002 Science for Society gold medal of the Academy of Science.
Makgoba is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal Society of South Africa. He is also a foreign associate member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
' Institute of Medicine
and a fellow of the College of Physicians of South Africa.
He is widely respected for publicly opposing South African President Thabo Mbeki
's Aids denialism. However his tenure as vice-chancellor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
has been widely seen as a disaster. According to the London Review of Books
the University "is in vertiginous decline" The institution has been rocked by a long series of scandals most of which have played out in the media fundamentally damaging the institution's credibility.
in 1995 before being suspended for alleged administrative incompetence and falsifying his résumé
. He later acknowledged various failings and agreed to step down from his position as Deputy Vice Chancellor in return for a Professorial Research position.
Makgoba left Wits University to join the South African Medical Research Council. He headed the South African Medical Research Council between 1999 and 2002 and was involved in developing South Africa's AIDS strategy and the SA AIDS Vaccine Initiative. While at the Medical Research Council he received strong media and civil society support for publicly opposing the AIDS denialism of the South African President Thabo Mbeki
.
He was appointed the principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Natal
on 1 September 2002, months after it was announced that the university would merge with the University of Durban-Westville
in the future. Many argued that the appointment was not made in accordance with the university regulations. This statement needs supporting evidence as this seems subjective. (afropolitan)
Makgoba continued with his position on the interim council during the merger, which was official on 1 January 2004. His position was confirmed upon the creation of the founding council of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
.
In 2005 the Mail and Guardian newspaper published an article by Professor Makgoba which compared middle-aged white academics to apes who had lost their alpha status. Later that year the Mercury newspaper reported that Makgoba had threatened to, at the request of the mayor of Durban, bring evidence from the National Intelligence Agency to the Council and to charge academics who had been working with the shack dweller's movement Abahlali baseMjondolo with 'incitement'.
A number of staff members claimed that they had been widely slandered by Makgoba in emails sent to staff and to the media.
Staff were also banned from speaking to the media during a two week strike in February 2006. Strikers wore T-shirts that read 'We Demand Academic Freedom'. Later that year he charged activist academic Fazel Khan, who has worked closely with the shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo
and is a key trade union activist on the campus, for 'bringing the university into disrepute' after Khan answered questions put to him by the media after he was airbrushed out of a picture and removed from the text of an article on a film he had made that was printed in the University newsletter.
In late 2006 an exhaustive study commissioned by the University's senate concluded that there was an atmosphere of intimidation and fear on the campus and that there was particular lack of respect for and trust in the integrity of the University's PRO Prof. Dasarath Chetty. Chetty was formally and severely censured by his peers in the South African Sociology Association and in a special editorial in the journal African Sociological Review. Makgoba has stood by Prof. Chetty despite this.
During November 2006, Makgoba defended himself against an attack by the Freedom of Expression Institute that alleged that the freedom of expression of academics at the University was being "eroded."
In the same year he made it clear that UKZN supported Jacob Zuma's
bid for the presidency of South Africa. However, Makgoba cannot speak on behalf of hundreds of members of staff and thousands of students who are each entitled to their own political opinions and who were not canvassed before he made this statement.
Makgoba, along with the council chairman, stepped aside from their positions on 28 November 2006, after a scandal emerged involving claims of sexual harassment and victimisation levelled by the dean of the Faculty of Management Studies. Makgoba denied these claims and relinquished his post pending the outcome of an enquiry. As the scandal unfolded staff were again issued an instruction not to speak to the media. Makgoba was subsequently found not guilty and resumed his position as Vice-Chancellor. This verdict was widely accepted as fair.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) is a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n immunologist, physician, public health advocate, academic and vice-chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
.
Achievements
Makgoba received an MBChBBachelor of Medicine and Surgery
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
degree from the University of Natal Medical School
University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
in 1976 and a DPhil degree in human immunogenetics from the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1983.
In 1999 he edited African Renaissance, a book recording the September 1998 Johannesburg conference on the African Renaissance
African Renaissance
The African Renaissance is the concept that African people and nations overcome the current challenges confronting the continent and achieve cultural, scientific, economic, etc. renewal. This concept has been popularized by South African President Thabo Mbeki during his term of office...
.
He has received many awards and distinctions including the 2002 Science for Society gold medal of the Academy of Science.
Makgoba is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and the Royal Society of South Africa. He is also a foreign associate member of the United States National Academy of Sciences
United States National Academy of Sciences
The National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
' Institute of Medicine
Institute of Medicine
The Institute of Medicine is a not-for-profit, non-governmental American organization founded in 1970, under the congressional charter of the National Academy of Sciences...
and a fellow of the College of Physicians of South Africa.
He is widely respected for publicly opposing South African President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
's Aids denialism. However his tenure as vice-chancellor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal
University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
has been widely seen as a disaster. According to the London Review of Books
London Review of Books
The London Review of Books is a fortnightly British magazine of literary and intellectual essays.-History:The LRB was founded in 1979, during the year-long lock-out at The Times, by publisher A...
the University "is in vertiginous decline" The institution has been rocked by a long series of scandals most of which have played out in the media fundamentally damaging the institution's credibility.
Academic career
Makgoba was appointed the first black deputy (afropolitan) vice-chancellor at the University of the WitwatersrandUniversity of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
in 1995 before being suspended for alleged administrative incompetence and falsifying his résumé
Résumé
A résumé is a document used by individuals to present their background and skillsets. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education...
. He later acknowledged various failings and agreed to step down from his position as Deputy Vice Chancellor in return for a Professorial Research position.
Makgoba left Wits University to join the South African Medical Research Council. He headed the South African Medical Research Council between 1999 and 2002 and was involved in developing South Africa's AIDS strategy and the SA AIDS Vaccine Initiative. While at the Medical Research Council he received strong media and civil society support for publicly opposing the AIDS denialism of the South African President Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mbeki
Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
.
He was appointed the principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Natal
University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
on 1 September 2002, months after it was announced that the university would merge with the University of Durban-Westville
University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
in the future. Many argued that the appointment was not made in accordance with the university regulations. This statement needs supporting evidence as this seems subjective. (afropolitan)
Makgoba continued with his position on the interim council during the merger, which was official on 1 January 2004. His position was confirmed upon the creation of the founding council of the University of KwaZulu-Natal
University of KwaZulu-Natal
The University of KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN is a university with five campuses all located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. It was formed on 1 January 2004 after the merger between the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville.-History:-University of...
.
Controversies
Makgoba immediately began introducing World Bank style reforms to the University. The Committee for Academic Freedom in Africa issued a statement in protest against alleged infractions of academic freedom. He then tried to evict shack dwellers living on the campus.In 2005 the Mail and Guardian newspaper published an article by Professor Makgoba which compared middle-aged white academics to apes who had lost their alpha status. Later that year the Mercury newspaper reported that Makgoba had threatened to, at the request of the mayor of Durban, bring evidence from the National Intelligence Agency to the Council and to charge academics who had been working with the shack dweller's movement Abahlali baseMjondolo with 'incitement'.
A number of staff members claimed that they had been widely slandered by Makgoba in emails sent to staff and to the media.
Staff were also banned from speaking to the media during a two week strike in February 2006. Strikers wore T-shirts that read 'We Demand Academic Freedom'. Later that year he charged activist academic Fazel Khan, who has worked closely with the shack dwellers' movement Abahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo
Abahlali baseMjondolo , also known as AbM or the red shirts is a shack-dwellers' movement in South Africa which is well known for its campaigning for public housing. The movement grew out of a road blockade organized from the Kennedy Road shack settlement in the city of Durban in early 2005 and now...
and is a key trade union activist on the campus, for 'bringing the university into disrepute' after Khan answered questions put to him by the media after he was airbrushed out of a picture and removed from the text of an article on a film he had made that was printed in the University newsletter.
In late 2006 an exhaustive study commissioned by the University's senate concluded that there was an atmosphere of intimidation and fear on the campus and that there was particular lack of respect for and trust in the integrity of the University's PRO Prof. Dasarath Chetty. Chetty was formally and severely censured by his peers in the South African Sociology Association and in a special editorial in the journal African Sociological Review. Makgoba has stood by Prof. Chetty despite this.
During November 2006, Makgoba defended himself against an attack by the Freedom of Expression Institute that alleged that the freedom of expression of academics at the University was being "eroded."
In the same year he made it clear that UKZN supported Jacob Zuma's
Jacob Zuma
Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
bid for the presidency of South Africa. However, Makgoba cannot speak on behalf of hundreds of members of staff and thousands of students who are each entitled to their own political opinions and who were not canvassed before he made this statement.
Makgoba, along with the council chairman, stepped aside from their positions on 28 November 2006, after a scandal emerged involving claims of sexual harassment and victimisation levelled by the dean of the Faculty of Management Studies. Makgoba denied these claims and relinquished his post pending the outcome of an enquiry. As the scandal unfolded staff were again issued an instruction not to speak to the media. Makgoba was subsequently found not guilty and resumed his position as Vice-Chancellor. This verdict was widely accepted as fair.
External links
- University of KwaZulu-Natal official site
- Freedom of Expression Institute site
- Fight for Fazel Khan - Union Leader Fired from UKZN in 2006
- Japan, Cabinet Office: Reflections on Hideyo Noguchi Africa Prize (2008) ***
- Right2Know: There’s a fight to be fought
- ARTICLES ABOUT MALEGAPURU MAKGOBA
- UKZN meeting thwarted
- Controversial UKZN audit under wraps
- More infighting at UKZN
- ARTICLES ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF KWAZULU-NATAL
- An opinion carries a high price
- UKZN carpets critics
- The vice in VC
- The wrath of dethroned white males