IRTC call for submissions

Dear member of the UCT community

Please take note of two important messages pertaining to the Institutional Reconciliation and Transformation Commission (IRTC).

1. The IRTC has extended the deadline for representations in the first phase of its work.

The IRTC in its first phase considered whether students who were granted clemency for incidents stemming from the Shackville incident of February 2016 can be granted amnesty and has recommended that Council grant amnesty to eight of the cases heard thus far. In doing so the IRTC stated: “The IRTC recognises the difficulties and imperfections of the process we are involved in. Amnesties and reconciliation involve trade-offs between justice and forgiveness, usually in the interest of a bigger goal. In the case of UCT, this is to advance the cause of reconciliation and transformation at the institution to enable the university to carry out its knowledge work under a conducive environment. The IRTC approached its work with this understanding. The commission recognises the fact that there might be individuals or groups who do not fall in the category that appeared before us, but who might have been impacted negatively, hurt, wronged or their dignity undermined by events at the university during the period in question. We call upon such individuals to approach the commission through representations.”

Members of the UCT community are therefore invited to make representations to the IRTC by 3 May in relation to its first phase of work: the amnesties and the impact of the protests and disruptions on them.

2. The IRTC calls for submissions for the second phase of its work.

The IRTC will soon begin the second phase of its work. This phase requires the IRTC to hear submissions from members of the UCT community and to then “make recommendations on institutional culture, transformation, decolonisation, discrimination, identity, disability, labour relations and any other matters that the university community has raised over the years or may wish to raise”.

The IRTC are now inviting all members of the UCT community to make submissions on the issues raised in the terms of reference (as per the paragraph above).

In addition to the above, the IRTC felt that opinions on the following topics need to be canvassed as well, and the community is invited to make submissions on:

• gender-based violence 
• accommodation
• security.
   

How to make a submission

All submissions/representations to the IRTC (whether phase 1 or 2) should be submitted to Candice Amon.

Please ensure that a submission does not exceed 15 pages. Should your submission exceed four pages, kindly ensure that there is an executive summary pertaining to each theme.

The due date for representation in respect of phase 1 is 3 May 2018.

The due date for submission in respect of phase 2 is 4 May 2018.

Confidentiality

It is important to note the following in terms of confidentiality: All evidence or information provided by any person to the IRTC in the course of its work will be confidential if so requested, to be disclosed to any other person or entity only with the consent of the person who has given the information, and only in an effort to achieve greater understanding, reconciliation and transformation. The commissioners will also ensure that the evidence or information is conveyed to any other person or entity on a confidential basis. The commissioners undertake not to disclose the evidence provided by any person to any law enforcement authority, including the police or the prosecution service.

In conclusion, I urge members of the university community, students and staff, to take advantage of this opportunity to share with the IRTC their views on these two sets of issues.

Sincerely

Dr Max Price
Vice-Chancellor

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