The University of the Witwatersrand has fired a senior academic who was found guilty of sexually harassing three colleagues.

Wits vice-chancellor Adam Habib confirmed the academic’s dismissal in a statement, saying he was found guilty of misconduct by an independent panel.

Habib said the university established the gender equity office about five years ago to deal with sexual harassment.

“We believe this is an example of the university moving swiftly within the parameters of the law to address gender-based harm on our campuses. The university does not tolerate any form of this and as a public institution we are determined to eliminate gender-based violence.”

He encouraged those who experienced or witnessed gender-based harm to report such incidents to the gender equity office.

.