Statement by the Council of the University of Cape Town

Dear members of the UCT community

The Council of the University of Cape Town (UCT) reaffirms its commitment to carrying out its fiduciary responsibilities as required by the applicable legislation and the UCT Institutional Statute.

Council has noted recent reports in the media about UCT. We remain committed to ongoing engagement, especially in respect of matters that confront our university on its journey as a transforming institution. Council also remains committed to the goals of a transformed university: where the voices of our wide stakeholder community will continue to be heard, where dissenting views will be respected, and where contestation and debate will be embraced as values that define who we are as a university community.

Media scrutiny of UCT is inevitable and also welcome, as we need to be an accountable institution. We do, however, expect media reports on the institution to be balanced, not targeted at particular individuals, and informed by facts rather than speculation. I call on all members of our community to be respectful in all engagements.

While ordinarily the processes of Council and the university will not be discussed in the public domain, for reasons of due regard to the interests of all parties concerned, I wish to confirm that the process has commenced to fill on a substantive basis a recent vacancy in the post of Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Transformation. In making a substantive appointment, which we anticipate will be done during the course of this year, the regular attention to good governance, fair process and expertise requirements, underscored by the imperatives of transformation and employment equity considerations, will guide all internal procedures such that the best interests of UCT are advanced. Council is committed to the transformation goals of UCT, recognising this foundational component of the university’s strategic plan.

Council notes with regret the resignation of Professor Eddy Maloka from his position as President of Convocation. We respect his decision and thank him for the contribution that he has made to UCT and to Convocation.

I wish to thank all members of the UCT community for their ongoing support of our university, for their hard work and their collective contributions as we continue to become better and stronger.

With sincere thanks

Babalwa Ngonyama
Chair of UCT Council

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements