VC’s public lecture at Ottawa and other updates

Dear colleagues

University of Cape Town (UCT) Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng will present a public lecture at the University of Ottawa on Monday, 6 June 2022. Read more on this and other updates below.

1. UCT VC to deliver public lecture the University of Ottawa

The campus community is invited to tune in as Professor Phakeng delivers a public lecture at the University of Ottawa in Canada at 22:00 on Monday, 6 June.

Titled “Walking the tightrope between the boardroom and the picket line: Reflections of a transformative university leader”, the lecture forms part of the University of Ottawa’s excellence in education lecture series. Professor Phakeng will address the audience on her experience as VC of UCT and her talk will focus mainly on what it means to be a “courageous, transformative leader”.

Phakeng took office on 1 July 2018 with the vision of ensuring that UCT retains its position as the top university on the African continent, while driving a radical transformation agenda.

Follow the lecture via Zoom (Meeting ID: 989 4238 4447, Password: axtMb2)

2. UCT CFO reappointed as SAICA chair

UCT Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Vincent Motholo, has been reappointed as chairperson of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA). Motholo, a qualified chartered accountant who joined UCT on 1 October 2021, was reappointed at the recent SAICA board meeting following the annual general meeting held late in May 2022.

In this role, Motholo will chair the board of the institute that is at the forefront of developing, influencing and leading the highest standards of ethics, education and professional excellence in the delivery of quality accountancy skills. SAICA is responsible for safeguarding professional standards; advancing and maintaining the relevance of the profession; and regulating the members’ and associates’ professional conduct.

His reappointment as SAICA chairperson is illustrative of the calibre of leadership and the immense expertise within the UCT executive.

Motholo has also served on SAICA’s Audit and Risk Committee as an independent non-board member. His other previous committee membership in the sector includes the Banking Sector Training Authority’s Independent Finance and Remuneration Committee, the South African State Theatre’s Audit and Risk Committee and the Independent Police and Investigative Directorate’s Risk Committee, where he was chairperson.

3. COVID-19 Vaccine Status Declaration

The university continues to ensure compliance with COVID-19 health protocols and to mitigate the spread of infection within the campus community.

This, however, requires commitment on everyone to take responsibility in assisting to reduce the risk. Providing accurate information into the UCT Vaccine Status Declaration system is one of the ways to help. This request is in line with the COVID-19 Code of Practice released by the Department of Employment and Labour on 15 February 2022, which came into effect on 4 May 2022.

This information is for statistical purposes only and unless mandated by the National Department of Health, will not be shared with anyone. This process has also been approved by UCT’s Protection of Personal information Act (POPIA) consultants.

Staff and students can declare their vaccination status by going to the UCT Health Centre, then click on the “Manage Vaccine Status” button. While the uploading of a vaccine certificate is on a voluntary basis, UCT encourages staff and students to do so.

• Read From the COO Desk: COVID-19 Vaccine Status Declaration.

4. Development Dialogues 2022

The Development Dialogue (DD) cycle for professional, administrative support and service (PASS) staff and senior staff ends on 31 May each year, and 1 June marks the beginning of our performance review, performance contracting and development planning season.

These discussion sessions should be completed by the middle of July 2022, and should be used to effectively connect and engage, and to facilitate performance and development discussions.

For more information about Development Dialogues, please refer to the Development Dialogue Resource Guide.

• Read From the COO Desk: Development Dialogues 2022.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements