Unisa critic jailed – two others slapped with fines

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has confirmed that controversial figure, Mogaile Mogashoa, has been arrested and is serving a six-month jail term. This after he was found in contempt of a court order that barred him from making defamatory statements about the institution and its leadership. The development follows a string of high court rulings against three individuals – Mogashoa, Mandisa Mashego andSimamkele Xani– whom the university took to task for spreading false and damaging allegations about Unisa and its officials.

According to Unisa, Mogashoa repeatedly violated a court interdict prohibiting him from spreading false statements about the university. These included allegations that the Unisa was operating irregularly and claims targeting Vice-Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula and other senior managers. Unisa spokesperson, Professor Boitumelo Senokoane, the institution had taken note of the latest development regarding Mogashoa’s arrest and imprisonment.

Senokoane said the university hoped the judgments would send a strong message against the spread of misinformation. After Mogashoa allegedly continued making similar statements in violation of the order, the court issued a warrant for his arrest. The case forms part of a broader legal push by Unisa to clamp down on what it says were persistent campaigns of misinformation against the institution.