Proposed changes to the UCT Statute
27 June 2019
The Council of the University of Cape Town (UCT) is considering the recommendations of a Council task team with regards to changes to the composition of the Council, which in turn will require amendments to the UCT statute.
The Higher Education Act 101 of 1997, as amended, prescribes the composition of university councils and stipulates the inclusion of not more than five persons appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training. Currently, UCT’s Council includes three ministerial appointees. It is the intention of the UCT Council that the university should comply with the legislation that makes provision for up to five ministerial appointees and that the composition of the Council be adjusted for this purpose. In addition, further amendments are contemplated and these are recorded below.
It is a requirement of South African law that the council of a public higher education institution consist of not more than 30 members, and that 60% of the members of the council be external members, ie. persons who are neither employees nor students of the higher education institution concerned.
All public universities in South Africa, except UCT, have five ministerial appointees as members of their respective councils. Not all universities have their full executive (vice-chancellor and deputy vice-chancellors) as members of council. Most universities have fewer than four members of convocation as members of council, and no university has more than 4 members in this category of membership.