UCT and Paul Ngobeni part ways

CAPE TOWN (Sapa) - Hlophe ally Paul Ngobeni and the University of Cape Town have parted ways following a university decision to abandon disciplinary charges against him.

Ngobeni was a deputy registrar at the university, and has been

one of the most outspoken defenders of controversial Western Cape Judge President John Hlophe.

He also played an important role in the strategy that allowed President Jacob Zuma to beat corruption charges.

In a statement released on Monday, UCT vice-chancellor Max Price said the university last year instituted disciplinary proceedings against Ngobeni.

That culminated in an external tribunal which sat from September 2008 to May this year.

The disciplinary process was now concluded, he said, and he and Ngobeni had agreed on a joint statement.

The statement said UCT policy laid down that internal disciplinary matters were confidential, but that given the public interest in the matter "we take the unusual step of releasing this statement".

"The parties, having participated in the internal disciplinary process and having due regard to the complex nature of the matters that gave rise to the enquiry, have reached a mutual agreement to annul the disciplinary enquiry and abandon all charges brought against Dr Ngobeni," the joint statement said.

Price said he acknowledged the hardship the matter must have caused "the parties involved".

"I wish to apologise for any inconvenience caused, particularly to Dr Ngobeni," he said.

"Having satisfactorily resolved the matters, Dr Ngobeni has expressed his wish to leave UCT to pursue other interests and we wish him all the very best in his future endeavours."

Ngobeni, a South African, went to the United States on a scholarship in 1982, and graduated with a law degree at the New York University School of Law in 1989.

He went into private practice in Connecticut, but was suspended from the roll in 2005 and found guilty of seven counts of misconduct.

Ngobeni has recently claimed there is a racist "group of gangsters" in the UCT law faculty who are opposed to Hlophe and want to entrench the position of whites in the judiciary.

Hlophe is facing an inquiry by the Judicial Service Commission into a complaint that he tried to influence a Constitutional Court ruling to go in favour of Zuma.

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Paul Ngubeni Its a sad day for transformation at universities and the Judiciary. White people have been allowed to dance on our hands for far too long. Its not enough that they are clinging to economic power and skills like possessed devils. They continue to undermine . .more the treansformation imperatives of the Constitution. I think its about time that the government introduce transformation through criminal law. Those who fail to transform be prosecuted. This is the only way we can go foward as Africans. I wish Paul Ngobeni well in his future endevours. Please Paul do not be silenced by the counter-revolusionaries. We are with you as young Lawyers. . .less by Skhokho on June 22 2009, 12:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

I saw it coming I knew that this was coming. I could not imagine how such an institution would have ignored the issues raised by Ngobeni in his argument for Hlophe. I believe the issues go beyong the Cp Bench but are a true reflection of the ordinary life in different . .more strata of South Africa. Polirising as these maybe we can not wish them away, they must be confronted. The best we can all do is to be civil about these issues and unanimously and honestly agree to sort racism and inaquality issues out so that we can all move on. An equal society is in all our interest and more so for white people who are constantly being blamed for every opportunistic failure of black people and thus make them targets of crime conviniently coated by thugs as retribution . .less by Gambu on June 22 2009, 13:08 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Good riddens to BAD, very Bad Rubbish... Ta Ta "Mr". Paul Ngubeni.... Go lie somewhere else... take JP Hlope with you as well... by Unknown on June 22 2009, 13:25 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

What were UCT doing, .. ..appointing a sleazebag like Ngobeni? Guilty of 7 counts of misconduct. This is counter-revolutionary. We need upright registrars at universities. by Petr on June 22 2009, 13:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Oink oink "pursue other interests" - A juicy government appointed position coming up perhaps ? by Sad days on June 23 2009, 00:05 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

USA matter Can anyone cast any light on the reasons why he was suspended in the USA? What was the nature of the 7 acts of "misconduct" because this must surely be of public interest if he is to continue working in South Africa? by interested on June 23 2009, 08:23 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

A sad day? It's an even sadder day when people such as Skhokho and Gambu judge the merits of a case by the skin colour of the parties concerned. Thus it seems it's OK for a judge to sit in matter in which he is in the employ of one of the litigants, and find in . .more favour of that litigant provided he, the judge, is Black. If the judge is White, no such behaviour will be tolerated. And similarly for judicial interference in a matter in which the judge is not one of the appointed judges. It seems it's OK for a Black judge to improperly interfere in a case, but not OK for a White judge to do so. Similarly, it's OK for a high profile Black official at a University to behave with impunity in a manner which brings the institution into disrepute, but not OK for a White official to do so. So it is that when identical rules are applied to Black and White officials, an almighty cry of RACISM goes up in favour of the Black official who comes short, regardless of the merits of his case; no such respite is ever afforded the White official who comes short. Ironically, those who habitually accuse others of racism in such cases are themselves the habitual practitioners of racism; not so Skhokho and Gambu? Clearly transformation does not mean what people like Skhokho and Gambu take it to mean; they need to read the Constitution more closely. . .less by flebus on June 23 2009, 09:20 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

On google and Dr Ngobeni Had UCT googled his name prior to appointing him they would have realised Connecticut and Massachusetts had questions for the man regarding trust accounts for clients etc by Jean Racine on June 23 2009, 11:07 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Ngobeni is a wanted fugitive Independent Online reports he is disbarred in 3 states (USA) and charged with forgery, larceny and failure to appear. What you'd expect from a Zuma supporter. by Petr on June 23 2009, 11:28 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

@Petr We'd expect lies, bribes called loans, high jinks and parties with taxpayers' money and champagne at R1300 a bottle, girls for the boys, etc. etc. And, of course no work to do at all. by oompah on June 23 2009, 13:33 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

Dr. Ngobeni I dont think that luminaries such as Petr et al, can take us anywhere. I salute Dr. Ngobeni for all the hard work he has put in defending the democratic gains...the rights of those who are marginalised. Thank you and God Bless. by Boyce on June 23 2009, 16:40 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

google it http://www.bailcobailbonds.com/fugitives/14 Is this the same man that Boyce, Skhoklo and Gambu are talking about. by interested on June 23 2009, 17:55 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

A reward on his head? Now read the following line on the bailcobailbonds website "BailCo will provide a reward for useful information leading to the apprehension of fugitives. " Perhaps one should try this, give BailCo the whereabouts, and hope that . .more they will start extradition proceedings... perhaps one can reap a reward? . .less by RJ on June 25 2009, 01:58 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

usa matter for full details on US MATTER go to www.socialaw.com/slip.htm?cid=18795&sid=120 by look on July 03 2009, 21:04 Find this comment inappropriate? Report it

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