Improved B-BBEE level reinforces UCT’s leadership

Dear colleagues and students

As the University of Cape Town (UCT), we stand as a beacon of excellence in higher education and financial governance. Our commitment to strategic decision-making – whether in key appointments, skills development or growing our commercial enterprise – ensures that we remain a leader in the sector, setting a benchmark for transformation, sustainability and academic excellence.

In South Africa, Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) is not just a compliance measure, it is a national imperative to address historical inequalities and create an inclusive economy. Higher education institutions play a crucial role in this transformation by ensuring equitable opportunities in leadership, procurement and enterprise development. UCT’s commitment to improving our B-BBEE levels directly contributes to economic justice, skills development and social progress, reinforcing our position as a leader in both academia and transformation.

UCT has consistently improved its B-BBEE status, reaching a Level 3 contributor rating in 2024, with an impressive score of 91.02 points.

• View UCT’s B-BBEE verification certificate.

This improved status reflects our dedication to inclusivity, empowerment and economic transformation. In comparison with other leading universities, UCT continues to be at the forefront.

Our financial stewardship has enabled us to allocate substantial resources to skills development, enterprise and supplier development, ensuring that our operations contribute to a more equitable and just society. Our achievements include:

• significant progress in Management Control, with targeted interventions to improve leadership diversity
• record investments in Skills Development, particularly in supporting bursaries for historically disadvantaged students
• achieving full marks in Enterprise and Supplier Development, ensuring that our procurement policies uplift small and black-owned businesses
• a consistent Socio-Economic Development commitment, reinforcing our role in building a fair and just society through education.

Just as it is the case with every appointment and policy at UCT, every investment is guided by a vision of transformation, sustainability and excellence.

Furthermore, our commercial enterprises, including innovative partnerships and revenue-generating initiatives, are carefully structured to support the university’s financial sustainability. The UCT Graduate School of Business forms part of the compelling mix that enables us to compete for business from corporate South Africa. By leveraging our assets efficiently and exploring new business models, we ensure UCT’s long-term success without compromising our academic mission.

While we celebrate our progress, we are mindful of the challenges ahead. Economic constraints require us to be innovative in maintaining our high standards. As part of our forward-looking strategy, we are exploring:

• enhanced skills development initiatives, including internship programmes leveraging UCT’s own assets to upskill our workforce
• stronger collaborations with public and private sector partners to enhance financial resilience and transformation
• a sustained focus on inclusive procurement and supplier development, reinforcing our leadership in equitable business practices.

UCT’s financial and strategic decisions are not just about compliance; they are about shaping the future of education and society. Our excellence is measured not only by our rankings but by the impact we make on lives, communities and the broader economy.

Thank you for being part of this important journey. With your support, UCT will continue to lead, transform and inspire.

Sincerely

Vincent Motholo, CA (SA)
Chief Financial Officer

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements