Varsities hit by racism rows

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Walter Sisulu University and the University of Fort Hare have revealed that the lecturers were removed from their courses pending the outcome of university probes.

WSU acted following a complaint by the students representative council, which claimed engineering lecturer Rikus Stander told students in class that engineering "is not for black people" and they "kept on being reminded [that] because they are blacks means they will fail engineering".

WSU acting spokesman Thando Cezula said: "The university regards the allegations by the students as very serious and has prioritised the matter accordingly by taking the necessary steps in investigating the issue."

Stander, a lecturer at the Buffalo City campus, said the allegations were untrue. He declined to comment on the decision taken by management.

University of Fort Hare lecturer Ben Jordan, who teaches in the business management department, is facing similar allegations.

Students claimed he made racist comments and set excessively difficult questions in tests.

Jordan declined to comment on the allegations, saying management had not addressed them with him. Attempts to get comment from him later were unsuccessful.

UFH spokeswoman Zintle Filtane said students allegedly harmed by the unreasonable exam questions were being assisted and that a new lecturer had been appointed. The allegations against Jordan would be investigated, she said.

Students threatened to boycott their final exams if the matter was not resolved.