The University of Free State (UFS) Lecturer who was previously accused of racism has tendered his resignation. Dr Pedro Mzileni announced on Saturday (25/11) his resignation from the university. 

Dr. Pedro Mzileni, ’n gasdosent aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat. Foto: Twitter.com

The sociology lecturer using social media X thanked the institution for its support during his tenure. “Everyone who loved and supported me and my family here, and enjoyed the pedagogy of the oppressed we offered, thank you so much,” he said. 

AfriForum youth spokesperson René van der Vyver recently accused the lecturer of being divisive and also stoking racial division and hostility.

Mzileni was accused of comparing coloured and Indian communities in South Africa to “deputy whites”. AfriForum also lodged a complaint against him to the provincial South African Human Rights Commission.

Meanwhile, UFS spokesperson, Lacea Loader, has confirmed Mzileni’s resignation. She said a letter of resignation was received from Mzileni, lecturer in the Department of Sociology on 24 November 2023.

Loader said he did not provide reasons for the resignation, and it will be effective on 29 December 2023.

“The university management takes note of the resignation and wishes Dr Mzileni all the best with his career. During the second semester of this year, the UFS launched an urgent and formal investigation into the guest lecture given by Dr Mzileni to second-year LLB students on 25 July 2023. 

This included independent fact-based investigation processes. Based on all the information available during the investigation, no evidence could be found that students were exposed to hate speech. The report on the investigation was shared with Dr Mzileni earlier this month.” 

OFM News/Lucky Nkuyane    Daphné