An application to appeal against the appointment of Prof Mandla Makhanya as the University of SA's (Unisa) vice-chancellor was dismissed on Thursday.
Unisa said the High Court in Pretoria turned down the application earlier in the day.
The appeal was lodged by former Unisa council member Themba Sono, after the court ruled against his bid to have Makhanya's appointment as vice-chancellor and principal set aside in April last year.
Unisa spokesman Martin Ramotshela said: “As far as we are concerned, the court was correct from the beginning in its finding that the council had followed the correct procedure during the appointment process.”
The university hoped the matter could now be laid to rest.
Sono contended Makhanya's appointment was irregular and the university council should have appointed David Mosoma to the position. He claimed the council had ignored the opinions of the selection committee, supported by the institutional forum and senate, which ranked Mosoma as the preferred candidate.
He insisted the council should not have voted for the two candidates, but should have simply accepted the recommendations of the selection committee.
At the time, the university said Makhanya had been appointed because he had received an overwhelming majority, getting 15 votes to Mosoma's seven. - Sapa