UNIVERSITY of Fort Hare (UFH) vice chancellor Professor Sakhela Buhlungu has allegedly used law firms linked to the university to fight his wife’s legal battle against the Nelson Mandela University (NMU).
This was after Buhlungu allegedly pleaded with the law firms to help his wife, Beata Mtyingizana.
He is also alleged to have instructed the law firms to negotiate a settlement with Mandela University on behalf of his wife.
The Sunday Independent investigation can reveal that Mtyingizana owes the law firms, and this also raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and questionable ties to Fort Hare’s legal affairs.
This was after the Sunday Independent saw a web of financial and legal issues involving Mtyingizana against NMU.
Mtyingizana’s legal troubles stemmed from an employment dispute with NMU. This follows her dismissal for what she claimed was “victimisation”.
She allegedly engaged several attorneys for assistance, including Professor Halton Cheadle, a former consultant at Bradley Conradie Halton Cheadle Attorneys (BCHC).
Cheadle allegedly referred her to Kirchmanns Incorporated.
Sources said Cheadle was a long-time associate of Buhlungu. Mtyingizana also asked for financial assistance from Cheadle.
In an email dated February 12, 2024, Mtyingizana submitted their banking account details to Cheadle and told him that her family was in deep financial trouble following her “unfair dismissal” from NMU and their children were without food.
She said Buhlungu was the least-paid vice chancellor in the country and had over R122 000 in monthly income cut from the family for almost eight months. She said Buhlungu had no money to feed the family and afford the expensive medication she needed to treat severe depression and anxiety.
“Sakhela will not ask you, or anyone for that matter. As a mother, I will do anything to get rid of the poverty that has engulfed my family.
“I only ask you one thing: Please spare Sakhela from the embarrassing begging I am doing right now,’’ read the message.
Mtyingizana, who allegedly owes Kirchmanns about R80 000, also sent an email to the law firm in October and told them that she did not have money to pay what was due to them. She told the law firm that she could commit herself to payment arrangements of R250 a month.
Mtyingizana called this paper and promised to respond on Friday after receiving questions on Wednesday, however, she had not responded at the time of going to press. Buhlungu and Fort Hare also did not respond.
Cheadle said he recommended Mtyingizana to approach a law firm in Gqeberha but did not disclose the name. He also refused to confirm Mtyingizana’s financial difficulties and her request for financial assistance.
Kirchmanns’ Craig Kirchmann said the law firm does not discuss details of clients with third parties.
“However, it is a matter of public record that we have represented the University of Fort Hare in the High Court, Labour Court, and CCMA since 2007,” he said.
When the BCHC contract was terminated as a service provider to UFH in April 2024, following the arrest of Conradie and Sarah Burger for alleged fraud and corruption, the legal firm was instructed to hand over various files and legal matters to Kirchmanns.
The sources revealed that a warrant of arrest was also issued against Cheadle for alleged fraud and corruption against BCHC. However, it was cancelled after he wrote a statement and explained his innocence.
Cheadle denied this, saying he was not served with a warrant of arrest. He threatened that he would take legal action against this publication.
“Please understand that such an allegation is defamatory, and my right to take appropriate legal action should you fail to heed this warning is reserved,” he said.
Kirchmanns is also running high-level litigious matters, such as the suspension of the three councillors whose case was lost in the High Court.
The case is currently on appeal.
Last week, the chairperson of the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Tebogo Litsie, criticised this, saying he was tired of the universities that constantly go to court wasting money instead of using it to improve the lives of students.
When Kirchmanns pressed Mtyingizana for payment, she alleged that the law firm failed to follow Cheadle’s recommended approach to her, which she claimed contributed to her dismissal from NMU, escalating her debt.
The sources said while much of the focus remained on Mtyingizana, the documents also show clear involvement by Buhlungu, including that he facilitated connections between his wife and Cheadle and was fully apprised of the status of her case and, of course, the financial exposure on themselves.
“The reality is that if there are others accused of being conflicted and connected to service providers, why is it that Professor Buhlungu continues to use a lawyer who stood to be arrested for corruption at the University of Fort Hare and has recently briefed another law firm that he and his wife personally owe R80K too?”