"Like all South Africans, he has a democratic right to voice his concerns about the potential leadership, or lack thereof of our country," spokesperson Sipho Nghona said on Tuesday.

He was responding to the call by the Young Communist League, the SA Students Congress and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union (Nehawu) that Pityana must resign.

"We are adamant that the reasons given are not what they are, but are political. We found the call distasteful and unwarranted."

Nghona said there had been much progress in Unisa under the leadership of Pityana.

"Threats of violence and vitriolic insults have no place in our new dispensation, and we are seriously concerned that this seems to be the order of the day where ill-mannered and ignorant demands are not met, and we call on such to cease with immediate effect."

He said Unisa was not a one man show.

"Matthews Phosa happens to be the chancellor, and there is a council that governs the institution. Why is the focus on Professor Pityana alone?"

The YCL and Sasco, in the past couple of years had found it suitable for students, teachers and lecturers to drop their books and toyi-toyi outside a court of law in support of an individual who faced criminal charges, said Nghona.

The YCL, Sasco and Nehawu intend to march to the university on Thursday to call for the immediate dismissal of Pityana.

They have threatened to render Unisa ungovernable if Pityana was not dismissed.