UCT administration must stabilise leadership in the wake of Vice Chancellor suspension

17 February 2023

ActionSA UCT notes reports regarding the suspension of Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng from her role as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town.

We recognize that this is a significant development in the ongoing leadership crisis at the university, which has negatively impacted the institution's functionality and has directly exacerbated the turmoil unfolding across campus.

We hope that this development will serve as an opportunity for the university to refocus its efforts and put finality to the angst felt across all structures at the University. We are optimistic that in the months to come, we will see a noticeable shift in priorities that will enable all relevant stakeholders to work together to build a better, more responsive university that meets the needs of all students.

Our call to action is for the university administration to prioritize the appointment of new leadership that can not only stabilize governance at the University but also act in the best interests of the institution and its students.

In addition, we reiterate our previous call for the establishment of a multi-stakeholder consultative process that will lead to the adoption of a pragmatic and sustainable plan to address the current fee/housing issues.

We are hopeful that the University's leadership will support our efforts to supplement the University's limited capacity through an expanded compact between the public and private sectors.

Issued by Matthew George, UCT Chairperson, ActionSA, 17 February 2023