A Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college senior lecturer dismissed for sexual harassment has failed in his bid to be reinstated. This follows a ruling by the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), which confirmed that his sacking was fair. Central Johannesburg College Langlaagte Campus lecturer John Kubasa Vike was dismissed by the Gauteng Department of Higher Education and Training following a disciplinary hearing in May 2024.
Although he appealed the outcome, the sanction was upheld in July this year. Vike challenged the outcome at the ELRC, seeking his reinstatement, arguing that the hearing chairperson was biased and that the dismissal was too harsh. The case stemmed from an incident in April 2023 involving Zinhle Mkhize, a 31-year-old business management student.
Mkhize testified during arbitration hearings that on the morning of the incident, she attended Vike’s class but was the only student who did not receive her test script. Vike told her he had forgotten it at home. After the lecture, he asked her to help carry papers to his office.
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While walking together, he asked whether she was available over the upcoming long weekend. Before she responded, he asked whether the cellphone number on her student file was correct for contacting her. When she questioned why he wanted this information, Vike became annoyed and abruptly took the papers from her and walked off. Upset, Mkhize sought help from another lecturer but was told nothing could be done.
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