Resignation of André Theys, ED: P&S

Dear colleagues and students

I am writing to inform you of the resignation of André Theys, the executive director of Properties & Services (P&S), who will be taking up the post of executive manager of operations at the V&A Waterfront Company from 1 June 2017. André has served the University of Cape Town (UCT) with dedication and professionalism for the last 16 years. Please join me in congratulating him on this new appointment and wishing him well as he makes this transition.

André heads one of the largest portfolios within UCT. He has overseen a very large budget and has delivered services consistently across an array of areas while managing significant risk. His portfolio includes security, access control, maintenance and cleaning, gardening, transport, parking, and management of vendor agreements on campus. He has played a vital role in maintaining the smooth operations of the university through challenges such as load shedding in 2015, disruptions caused by protests over the last two years, the removal of the Rhodes statue in April 2015, the current urgent need for water conservation, and the recent insourcing of staff members, which increased the P&S staff contingent to some 955 colleagues. Recently he oversaw the completion of the New Engineering Building, the new Snape Building and the New Lecture Theatre, as well as the purchase of the new fleet of Jammie Shuttles. His engagement with organisations like the taxi associations and Heritage Western Cape has helped to create good relationships with these stakeholders.

André and I have agreed that his last day of employment at UCT will be 31 May 2017. Roland September, the director of Risk Services, will assume the role of acting executive director of Properties & Services from 1 June 2017 until a new executive director is appointed. We will use this opportunity to review the portfolio and job description and will initiate the recruitment process as soon as possible.

André has managed a massive portfolio with outstanding professionalism. He will certainly be missed in his professional capacity but also as a warm and supportive colleague.

Sincerely

Dr Max Price
Vice-Chancellor
 

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