Dr Lord Mauko-Yevugah
INTERNATIONAL relations lecturer Dr Lord Mawuko-Yevugah has been placed on special leave following an investigation.Social Sciences head of school Prof Shahid Vawda said Mawuko-Yevugah had been put on leave about two weeks ago and would “be back as soon as the investigation is over”.
Vawda could not confirm the details or the nature of the investigation. He said he had not recieved formal confirmation of the nature of the allegations or the investigation.
Vawda said the investigation could be in relation to any form of misconduct such as sexual harassment, racial discrimination or gender-related issues.
He told Wits Vuvuzela to approach the Wits legal office for any further information or comments regarding the investigation.
Wits Vuvuzela was unable to reach the Wits legal office for comment. The communications office referred the paper to Wits employee relations.
Director of Employee Relations, Elaine Milton, said she could not rule out that the pending investigation was unrelated to sexual harassment. Milton referred further questions to the legal office.
When contacted Mawuko-Yevugah said he was on “personal leave” due to ill health since his return to the country from his trip to Ghana.
“I don’t know how long I will be away for but I will be back,” said Mawuko-Yevugah.
Administrative officer for the international relations department, Hilda Potgieter, said Mawuko-Yevugah “had taken personal and family leave”.
Potgieter said a contingency plan had been implemented to ensure students did not miss lectures and were not inconvenienced by Mawuko-Yevugah’s sudden absence.
“New lecturers have been assigned,” said Potgieter.
Mawuko-Yevugah is one of at least four lecturers who have been put on special leave by the university in the past two months, pending investigations.
Following Mawuko-Yevugah’s sudden absence, social science students were left confused and approached Wits Vuvuzela to express their concern.
Mawuko-Yevugah who teaches international relations subjects to undergraduates, postgraduates and Wits Plus students, joined Wits University in June 2011. He holds a PhD from Alberta University in Canada, with a specialisation in international and comparative political economy.
Additional Resources
Wits Vuvuzela. April 13, 2013: Wits staff in sexual harassment inquiry.
