Key Takeaways
- A former University of South Africa (Unisa) student, Simamkele Xani, has denied contempt of court allegations made by the university’s vice-chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula.
- Xani has accused LenkaBula of corruption, abuse of power, and falsifying qualifications, and has dared her to lay a contempt of court charge.
- The university’s legal action has been deemed a "clear abuse of university resources and intentional misrepresentation of the court order" by Xani’s lawyers.
- Xani has instructed his lawyers to approach the Minister of Higher Education and the President to extend the terms of reference of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to include a probe into Unisa’s affairs.
Introduction to the Controversy
The University of South Africa (Unisa) has been embroiled in a controversy surrounding its vice-chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, who has been accused of corruption, abuse of power, and falsifying qualifications by a former student, Simamkele Xani. The allegations have led to a heated exchange between Xani and the university, with the latter accusing Xani of contempt of court. However, Xani has denied the allegations, stating that the university’s legal action is a "clear abuse of university resources and intentional misrepresentation of the court order".
The Contempt Allegations
Through his lawyers, Sebako Attorneys, Xani has argued that the court order was limited to a TikTok video and did not grant Orders 4 and 8 as claimed by the university. The lawyers have stated that the court had clearly said it could not grant the order, and that the university’s misrepresentation of the court order was intentional and deliberate. Xani’s lawyers have warned the university to withdraw the misrepresentation, or face a complaint of misconduct to the Legal Practice Council.
The University’s Response
The university has rejected Xani’s claims, pointing out that he had been ordered by the court to refrain from publishing damaging allegations against Unisa and LenkaBula. However, Xani has maintained that the university’s response is an attempt to silence him and has instructed his lawyers to approach both the Minister of Higher Education, Buti Manamela, and President Cyril Ramaphosa to extend the terms of reference of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to include a probe into Unisa’s affairs. This move is seen as an attempt to have the allegations against LenkaBula and the university investigated by a higher authority.
The Allegations Against LenkaBula
The allegations against LenkaBula are serious and far-reaching, with Xani claiming that she falsified her qualifications and was appointed as vice-chancellor irregularly. According to Xani’s lawyers, the personal credential verification certificate shows that LenkaBula does not have a master’s degree from St Andrew’s College in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, but an honours degree. This discrepancy is also reflected in her CV, which has raised questions about her suitability for the position of vice-chancellor.
The Call for Investigation
Xani’s lawyers have submitted a letter to Minister Manamela, requesting that he institute an investigation into the conduct of the Unisa council in appointing LenkaBula as vice-chancellor. The letter also requests that the Minister arrest LenkaBula and everybody mentioned in the letter dated 26 November 2025. The issue of irregularity in the appointment of LenkaBula is said to run deep, with the late professor Muxe Nkondo being "unprocedurally and unmorally" removed from his position before LenkaBula’s appointment. The call for an investigation is seen as an attempt to uncover the truth behind the allegations and to hold those responsible accountable.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding Unisa and its vice-chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, has taken a dramatic turn with Xani’s denial of contempt allegations and his call for a deeper probe into the university’s affairs. The allegations against LenkaBula are serious and have raised questions about her suitability for the position of vice-chancellor. The university’s response has been seen as an attempt to silence Xani, but he has maintained that he will continue to fight for the truth to be uncovered. The outcome of this controversy will have far-reaching implications for Unisa and the higher education sector as a whole.