Update on UCT’s Vice-Chancellor

Dear members of the UCT community

I am pleased to provide an update on the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng following her hospitalisation on Monday, 5 December 2022.

Professor Phakeng was discharged from hospital on Friday, 9 December. Thank you for the outpouring of support from members within and outside the UCT community during this period.

At the time of hospitalisation, while acting precautionarily and under what were then uncertain circumstances, Council agreed to grant Professor Phakeng some additional time off ahead of her annual leave period which was scheduled to commence from Friday, 16 December.

I have subsequently had a cordial in-person engagement with Professor Phakeng, who has agreed to take up Council’s offer for the time off for the rest of this week leading up to her scheduled annual leave.

In accordance with the decision taken by Council on Tuesday, 6 December, Professor Elelwani Ramugondo, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness, will continue to serve as acting Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Phakeng will return to the office when her annual leave period ends on 9 January 2023.

We will continue offering our support to both Professor Phakeng during her time off, and to Professor Ramugondo and the entire UCT leadership as they hold the fort in this period.

Sincerely

Babalwa Ngonyama, CA (SA)
Chair of UCT Council

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements