Johannesburg - Former Wits University lecturer Tsepo Mamatu, found guilty of sexual harassment and dismissed from the institution, has made a very public apology.
Mamatu was sacked last year after being placed on special leave earlier in the year over allegations of rape and sexual abuse.
On Monday night, Mamatu - who also styles himself Wa Mamatu - posted a lengthy apology on Facebook.
“Dear family: As most of you will know,” his missive begins, “I faced allegations of sexual harassment from a community of students that I served and worked for at Wits. After due processes were followed, I was dismissed by the university.”
Mamatu said he had gone on a “journey of exile” after his dismissal, into a space where he asked himself “difficult and hard” questions and a space where he engaged with his faults, inconsistencies and “aporias” (an irresolvable internal contradiction or logical disjunction).
He continues in the Facebook message: “Based on this I have the following to share. I apologise to everyone who was hurt and disappointed by my lack of judgment. I apologise to my students for failing to be an advocate of sound and impeccable judgment.
“I apologise for abusing my power, vested on me by the university, to fail to be consistent with the principles and values of best practice. I apologise for lacking the foresight that my behavior would bring to the reputation of the institution into disrepute.”
At the time of the playwright’s dismissal, along with media studies senior lecturer Last Moyo, Wits vice-chancellor and principal Professor Adam Habib apologised to the affected students and said the university would not tolerate sexual harassment of any form.
On Monday, Mamatu said he apologised for lacking the “moral clout” to know better and do the right thing “when it mattered the most”.
“I apologise to my community, my society and every woman for failing them,” he said.
Mamatu also apologised to his church and family for the “pain, hurt and shame” he said he had brought them.
The Star