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- Stellenbosch Business School director Professor Mark Smith has had to resign from the position he held since 2020.
- News24 understands this development is related to challenges with securing appropriate visas for his family.
- The Department of Home Affairs says it approved conditional visas, while the university says it continues to support ongoing discussions to "smooth out visa processes".
- For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page.
Stellenbosch Business School director Professor Mark Smith has resigned from his position, which he has held since 2020. News24 understands this development was linked to his family not securing appropriate visas to reside in South Africa.
Stellenbosch University on Friday issued a statement indicating that Smith had made the "difficult decision" to resign.
"The decision was not taken lightly as Professor Smith deeply values his role at the business school and the progress made during his tenure. However, in consideration of his family, who are residing in France, he believes it is now the right time to embark on a new chapter in his life," the statement reads.
Said Professor Ingrid Woolard, Stellenbosch University's dean of economic and management sciences: "The university is indeed losing a valuable contributor, but we wish professor Smith all the best as he reunites with his family…"
Woolard added that the university was committed to creating a "welcoming environment for prospective national and international staff".
"As such, it will continue to support Universities South Africa in ongoing discussions with the Department of Home Affairs to smooth out visa processes," Woolard added.
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Smith will continue in his role until the end of October 2023 to ensure a smooth transition for the institution. He will be leaving for Europe at the end of the year to join his family in France.
"I am personally and professionally sad about leaving Stellenbosch University and South Africa before the end of my mandate. The challenges of international relocation affect many families in South Africa and beyond, but this is ultimately a personal story.
"While my personal circumstances led us as a family to make our decision for me to return to Europe, some families do not have this choice or allow more time to continue seeking the required documentation," Smith said.
In an emailed letter to News24, Director-General of Home Affairs Tommy Makhode said visa applications had been received by the SA embassy in Paris for Smith's wife, as well as a study visa for her daughter. The applications were approved and the visas issued and received in Paris in June, Makhode said.
The abovementioned approval was conditional, however - Smith's wife was given nine months to reside with her husband, while the visa condition would be aligned to her husband's contractual obligations, Makhode said. Meanwhile, the daughter's visa was aligned to her father's term, he added.
According to Makhode, attempts to communicate with Smith's wife were unsuccessful.
"It should also be noted that the Department of Home Affairs and the International Education Association of South Africa (IEASA), and Universities South Africa (USAf) have established mutual cooperation through which, on a regular basis, we look at issues related to visas for students and for lecturers. Recognising the importance to provide enabling documents in the form of visas and permits for academia’s international staff, students and post-doctoral fellows, our mutual resolution entails giving high-priority to such application," Makhode said.
However, he added: "The matter of Prof Mark Smith is one of those that were not received by us through this mechanism."
Makhode said that the department was "ready to address any issues pertaining to applications".
Smith will now be exploring new opportunities in management education in Europe and will continue to contribute to the four-day workweek trial, which he helped run in South Africa and has since expanded to numerous countries in Europe, said the university.
"I will remain proudly attached to Stellenbosch University as an extraordinary professor," he said.
Professor Charles Adjasi has been appointed acting director of the business school.
In the short time Smith led the business school, it underwent a rebranding and renaming, and obtained full five-year accreditations from globally recognised accreditation organisations in the UK and US. He has also led preparations to obtain upcoming accreditations in 2024 from EQUIS, another international school accreditation system, and the Association of African Business Schools.
During his tenure, the school was also invited to join the Council on Business in Society, which focuses on responsible leadership. The business school's international reputation also rose, having been recognised as the best business school in South Africa in 2022 by EdUniversal.
Furthermore, the academic faculty also grew – with nearly a quarter of the academics joining since 2020.
The university also noted Smith's work in strengthening the business school's capabilities in digital education and artificial intelligence by forming partnerships with leading institutions worldwide.
* This article was updated on 26 October 2023 to include comment from the Department of Home Affairs.
