University of Fort Hare SRC President Suspension Sparks Outrage from SAUS
Alice – The University of Fort Hare has erupted into controversy after the abrupt suspension of its SRC president, Aphelele Khalakahla, a move that has sent shockwaves through student communities nationwide, with the South African Union of Students (SAUS) condemning it as a “draconian” clampdown on leadership.
The suspension, announced on September 14, 2025, has ignited fury from SAUS, which accuses the university of silencing dissent ahead of a critical council meeting on governance issues. SAUS president Siyabonga Moses Nkambako slammed the decision in a statement on September 15, calling it “an attempt to silence student leaders with the contempt it deserves.” The timing – just days before the meeting – raises suspicions, as Khalakahla, a vocal advocate for student rights, was reportedly targeted for challenging the status quo. University of Fort Hare (UFH) management, led by Vice-Chancellor Sakhela Buhlungu, defends the action as due process following an unlawful protest, but students and unions see it as part of a broader pattern of repression against those who dare to speak out.
The drama unfolded after a mass protest last week by students, workers, and community members, which UFH labelled “unlawful” and disruptive to campus operations. Khalakahla, 24 and a final-year law student from the Alice campus, was suspended pending a disciplinary hearing, with the university citing violations of its code of conduct. In a swift response, Khalakahla challenged the suspension in the High Court, but the case was dismissed with costs on September 16, with UFH stating it “confirmed due process has been followed.” SAUS, representing 2 million students nationwide, fired back, describing the move as “victimisation” and demanding Khalakahla’s immediate reinstatement.
SAUS Slams ‘Draconian’ Move as Pattern of Repression
Nkambako’s statement pulls no punches, linking Khalakahla’s fate to a “culture of student victimisation that many universities have embodied in the face of dissent by student leaders.” The union alleges the suspension was “timely orchestrated to prevent him from raising serious issues affecting students and the university at large in terms of governance.” UFH, once a cradle of liberation icons like Nelson Mandela and Robert Sobukwe, has faced scrutiny over administrative woes, including funding shortfalls and infrastructure decay that sparked the recent protests. SAUS warns: “There will never be a time where management and student leaders sing with one voice when it comes to student matters,” vowing to “monitor the situation closely and actively engage the vice-chancellor.”
The backlash extends to calls for Buhlungu’s resignation, with SAUS arguing his term has ended and he’s reached retirement age. “His preoccupation is to ruin futures of students by suspending them, and as the union, we will never side with someone who oppresses black students,” Nkambako asserted. Buhlungu, 64 and in the post since 2018, has defended the university’s actions, stating in a September 17 media release that “due process has been followed” and the suspension was prompted by “grave complaints” from political organisations. However, the Young Communist League’s Alice branch dismissed this as “misleading,” claiming the real trigger was Khalakahla’s criticism of governance lapses.
High Court Dismissal Fuels Student Anger
Khalakahla’s High Court bid, filed September 15, sought an interdict against the suspension, arguing it violated his rights to free expression and association. The Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda dismissed it with costs on September 16, ruling the university followed procedure and the protest breached campus rules. UFH spokesperson Thando Mgudlwa: “This confirms due process has been followed.” But for Khalakahla, it’s a setback: “The fight for accountability continues,” he posted on X, garnering 5,000 likes.
The SRC, still listing Khalakahla as president on its website, rallied behind him, with deputy Luzuko Mnase: “This is an attack on all voices for change.” Protests swelled last week, with 500 marching to the Alice campus gates, chanting against “oppressive management.” SAUS has penned Buhlungu, urging “reconsider this decision and open dialogue.”
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