The newly formed lobby group, Black Forum South Africa (BFSA), has issued a statement. 

In a letter addressed to the CUT’s Registrar and Acting Chairperson of the council, they express their view that there is a political targeting on Rantso, both from the CUT Council and Management to attack and tarnish his professional reputation. The letter also states that the council and management’s intention is to cause disruptions and divisions within the CUT Council. 

“The focus of the CUT Council should be on shaping the futures of the poor students coming from indigent families, other than fighting for Council positions. As Black Forum South Africa we will never tolerate such nonsense.”

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Council infighting

Rantso was suspended in February of 2023, pending an investigation into allegations that he failed to declare a conflict of interest with an applicant and candidate, former Free State Health MEC Benny Malakoane. 

Malakoane allegedly was interviewed to be the CEO of CUT Innovation Services (CUTis), which is the institution’s investment company. Rantso’s suspension came amidst media reports criticising him for not having a tertiary education – in which the President of the CUT’s Alumni Association and member of the CUT board, Mbuyiselo Frans, was quoted. This article also formed part of the investigation to assess whether Frans’ conduct constitutes a charge/action of bringing the institution into disrepute.  

Back to the BFSA, their letter states that instead of ensuring that the CUT – under the first female Vice-Chancellor, Pamela Dube – succeeds in its vision to become an obvious university of choice in South Africa, black bodies are eating each other alive. As a result, they forget about the core business of the university they are serving. “We are so ashamed as the black community that black people cannot work well with one another, they will easily cannibalise each other.”

Allegations of failure to disclose conflict of interest

When the group speaks about the allegations of failure to disclose conflict of interest, they say the point of departure, which should not be ignored, is that the chairperson had already disclosed information to the university through a Full Disclosure Document submitted to the CUT on 23 March 2020. “His disclosure clarifies the professional relations he had with one of the candidates for the CUTis CEO position. There is no direct or indirect potential for Rantso to derive any personal, family or financial gain or benefit should the candidate be appointed or not,” according to the letter.

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Rantso and Malakoane’s knowledge of each other

Late in 2019, Malakoane was called to the stand of the Bloemfontein High Court during the murder trial of businessman, Louis Siemens. Malakoane’s name came up during the testimony of the state’s first witness in the trial, Rantso. Rantso revealed that Malakoane introduced him to accused number one in the trial, Stanley Bakili, in 2017. This meeting initiated the relationship between the two businessmen, resulting in Rantso playing an advisory role in the City Med Day Hospital’s application for hospital bed licenses.

Findings of the alleged report commissioned by CUT

The leaked report in possession of OFM News, allegedly tabled at the latest board meeting, had the following findings and recommendations:

•There are no regulations on the required tertiary qualification or lack thereof of the chairperson of a board of higher institutions.

•No evidence was found that Rantso had a “business relationship” with Malakoane.

•The report, however, questions the fact that Rantso indicated on several occasions that he does not know Malakoane although evidence was found to the contrary.

•That Rantso, Mokose, and Frans should undergo disciplinary processes.

•That the Minister of Higher Education should be consulted for further decisive action to be considered against them for unprofessionalism.

•That Rantso should be “declared unfit to hold office”.

•Board members who are implicated who hold membership in professional bodies, should be reported.

CUT’s reply

The spokesperson for the institution, Dan Maritz, replied to OFM News’ inquiry into the allegations. 

He stated: “The list of questions you are referring to are confidential to Council and are therefore not currently available in the public domain until the Council makes a pronouncement on them. Also, it is concerning that confidential Council information is being leaked to the media, as confirmed in this media inquiry. This unethical practice compromises the fair process. Thus, the university will not comment on matters still being dealt with internally. The CUT Council wants to assure all the stakeholders and (all parties concerned) that it is dealing with issues within the provisions of the Higher Education Act, statute, and policies. The decisions taken are made in the best interest of the CUT. Until these processes are concluded, the Council will not make public pronouncements.”

OFM News