THOHOYANDOU – Prof Ben van der Waal has been re-instituted in his post in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Venda for Science and Technology. The condition of the reinstitution of this internationally recognised academic is that he should "keep quiet" for the next five years.

Van der Waal was summarily dismissed from his duties as an employee of Univen in February this year, after a disciplinary hearing concerning an incident in April 2000, when he was one of 2000 participants in a protest march to present a petition to the Department of Education in Thohoyandou. The petition stated that in the light of the findings of the Heath Special Investigation Unit in respect of the improper and irregular use of a credit card by the Principal of the University of Venda, Prof Gessler Nkondo, the petitioners were calling upon the principal to resign.

Following the conviction, Prof Van der Waal, whose expertise includes Fresh Water Science and Indigenous Fish, discontinued his duties at Univen, where he had been lecturing since 1986. He became a consultant and travelled widely in the neighbouring countries of the continent where his services were needed.

Meanwhile, Prof van der Waal's appeal to Council was treated in two meetings, but the process was slow and cumbersome. He therefore reported the case to the CCMA (Council for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration), where it was ruled that he should be re-instituted and his salary remunerated. He received Council's decision via e-mail on August 29 that his dismissal had been reversed and his sentence suspended for five years.

He was to report duty on September 1. Since he had commitments in Zambia at the time, Prof Van der Waal resumed his duties at Univen in middle October. In the meantime, his salary for eight months had been paid into his bank account.

Said Van der Waal: "Through this experience, I have learnt that justice eventually comes through; you just have to stay patient and humble. I am thankful to be back at the University, although it took some adjustment, after having worked for myself. However, according to their letter, I am still guilty in terms of Article 92, sub paragraph l." For the next five years, he may not participate in any protest marches or deliver any criticism on the management of the University. When he was on the nomination list for Head of Department recently, Prof van der Waal was told that he may not be elected as Head of Department. The new Head of the Department of Biological Sciences is Mr Edward Mabogo.