My attention has been drawn to an article by R W Johnson, "The rise and decline of ANC hegemony", which was published on Politicsweb on 18 December 2011. He states that the English-speaking universities "effectively became parastatals whose vice chancellors could not be appointed save with ANC assent".

I chaired the Council of UCT when its current vice-chancellor, Dr Max Price, was appointed.  In that capacity, I chaired the short-listing committee which selected the applicants who would be interviewed. 

I then chaired the selection committee, which interviewed those applicants and recommended the appointment of Dr Price.  I presented that recommendation to the University Senate meeting which endorsed the recommendation. I chaired the University Council meeting which appointed Dr Price.

During that appointment process, I made no contact with the ANC to discuss the appointment.  No-one from the ANC contacted me to discuss the matter.  There was no mention or discussion at any meeting of the short-listing committee, the selection committee, the Senate or the Council of whether the ANC had assented or would assent to the appointment of Dr Price.

So I have to ask Mr Johnson:  How and when, and by whom, was the ANC asked for its assent to the appointment of Dr Price?  Who on behalf of the ANC gave that assent?  And how does he know this?

I invite Mr Johnson either to substantiate his factual claim, or to withdraw it and apologise. If he does not do either, then I for one will know that his assertions of fact cannot be trusted, however well they may fit the theories which he propounds.

Yours sincerely

GEOFF BUDLENDER

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