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Apology to Gary Paul
In an article headlined “Deputy vice-chancellor drags university to CCMA”, published on 10 March 2023, City Press reported that Central University of Technology’s deputy vice-chancellor for resources and operations, Dr Gary Paul, was “reinstated” by the university following allegations relating to procurement irregularities.
Paul lodged a complaint with the Press Council. Deputy Press Ombud Tyrone August found that although the CUT’s Council statement refers to his suspension, it does not state that this is in relation to allegations about procurement irregularities.
August also found that there was no merit in referring to sexual allegations against him because he was cleared of these allegations at a CUT hearing and these allegations were not related to the case at the CCMA.
City Press was therefore found to have breached certain sections of the Press Code. City Press apologises to Dr Gary Paul. Visit www.presscouncil.org.za for the full finding.
The Central University of Technology's deputy vice-chancellor for resources and operations, Dr Gary William Paul, is again at odds with the university.
City Press understands that the university in Bloemfontein allegedly failed to renew Paul’s contract and that he lodged a dispute of unfair dismissal at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) in January.
This is not the first time that Paul and the university have been at loggerheads.
Paul was reinstated by the university following allegations relating to procurement irregularities, which resulted in the departure of former vice-chancellor Professor Henk de Jager after a mutual separation agreement with the council last year.
READ: University council chair has no degree
Following that incident, Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande appointed Professor Norman Duncan to investigate allegations of maladministration.
Paul also faced allegations of sexual harassment in 2021, which were made by an employee, whose name is known to City Press. The employee had allegedly dated a vice-chancellor at the university previously.
However, City Press understands Paul was found not guilty in a hearing.
Neither the university nor Paul commented on the matter on Friday afternoon when the story was published.
Paul could only say that he was aware that City Press had approached the university regarding his CCMA dispute and that the university had responded.
Paul stated:
University spokesperson Dan Maritz declined to comment.
“I cannot comment on personnel matters, as it is against the university’s policies to discuss these matters with the media and public.”
‘Not consulted’
City Press understands that the university’s new vice-chancellor and principal, Pamela Zibuyile Dube, was briefed about Paul’s matter in January.
At the time, Dube had not been inaugurated.
READ: Assessor assigned to probe Central University of Technology maladministration allegations
She was only inaugurated on February 17.
According to an internal memo dated January 15 from the university’s deputy director for employee relations Thami Majola to Dube and institutional registrar Dr Sally Dzingwa, which City Press has seen, Paul declared a dispute on January 10.
The memo said:
Majola mentioned Paul’s prayer before the CCMA was an unconditional renewal of his contract for a further five years.
The CCMA case, Majola said, had been activated for conciliation or arbitration and would communicate the date for the case with Paul and the university.
READ: Varsity council chair suspended over 'conflict of interest' involving former MEC
This is a developing story.
