'Culture of fear' at Fort Hare, says union leader

GQERBERHA - There is a culture of fear at Fort Hare University.

This is according to General Secretary of the National Tertiary Education Union, Grant Abbott.

He says people associated with the university, including union members, are afraid to speak out on issues at the institution.

READ: Fort Hare Fires | Concerns about private security on campus

Fort Hare has been plagued by murder, assassination attempts and academic fraud, dating back months, if not years.  

"I think they [Fort Hare staff] are feeling traumatised and terrorised.

"We were saying this in our meeting with the minister that there is a culture of fear," Abbott said.

READ: Heightened fear among University of Fort Hare staff

"When you speak about a culture of fear it's often people who are fearful for their jobs to speak out.

"Here, if people speak out there is a legitimate fear for their lives," he said.

"Why does a lot of what is happening in Fort Hare not come out? [It's] exactly because of that, your job is one thing but when it is the life of your family, it is a whole other game and that is a very sad situation that we find ourselves in."