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A student is being sued R300 000 for calling the former head of the Ehlanzeni Further Education and Training (FET) College Pat Zwane a small pig.

Ehlanzeni FET student representative council chairman Buhlebuyeta Lukhele is accused of labelling Zwane “a small pig” in an interview with African Eye News Service (AENS) in September this year.

“This boy has no respect, he called me a small pig, so he needs to be held accountable for his words,” Zwane told AENS this week.

In September, Mpumalanga education MEC Reginah Mhaule was forced to find a new post for Zwane after students boycotted against him.

She said Zwane would be “permanently” placed within the provincial department for the sake of stability at the college, which has six campuses across the Ehlanzeni district.

Zwane’s removal from the college followed a string of protests at the Mbombela campus.

Students blocked the entrance to the college and refused to go to class in protest against his reinstatement after he was suspended on a string of charges. His suspension was lifted on August 26.

He was suspended in February last year on charges ranging from maladministration, nepotism and failure to comply with the Public Finance Management Act and treasury regulations. He was cleared of all except the compliance charge.

The charges related to allegation of mismanagement of the college’s funds, appointment of relatives and friends at the FET college’s different campuses and failure to follow proper procedures when issuing tenders.

Students also accused the CEO of using money meant for student bursaries to fund his personal expenses. They also accused him of swearing at staff members.

At the time, Lukhele told AENS that: “The return of this small pig has caused all this disaster. As students, we want Dr (Simon) Mlangeni to return. I am speaking on behalf of all the students that we want Mlangeni to return.”

When approached for comment on Monday, Lukhele said he was sorry and did not have money to fight the lawsuit or pay Zwane.

“I do not have money to pay him he must take my life then. I have seen papers from his lawyers, but I do not know what to say for now,” he said.

He asked if AENS could set up a meeting between him and Zwane so he could apologise to Zwane.

Provincial education spokesman Jasper Zwane would not comment on the matter.

“This is an issue between the two, so we cannot talk about it,” said Zwane, who is not related to the former college boss.

Ehlanzeni FET College spokesman Mxolisi Nzimande said he was not aware of the lawsuit against Lukhele.