The outgoing Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Mamokgethi Phakeng was recently placed on special leave with immediate effect, until her last day in office on 3 March 2023.
This comes after a four-member panel led by the retired Supreme Court of Appeal Judge President Lex Mpati was investigation whether the UCT Council Chairperson Babalwa Ngonyama and Phakeng misled the Senate in relation to the departure of the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Lis Lange in 2022.
Phakeng was allegedly offered a termination agreement which will see her leaving the university with a settlement of more than R12 million.
The Chair of UCT's Black Academic Caucus (BAC), Dr Hlumani Ndlovu said that they have heard more from the media than they have from the UCT council regarding this matter. He said this raises serious concerns.
This is because the university has recently started a practice of enforcing non-disclosure agreements in terms of its personnel movements. Ironically this is one of the many complaints that have been raised against Phakeng in her term as VC.
The BAC raised concerns that Phakeng was publicly forced into early retirement. Ndlovu said that this is a very complex issue and the decision surrounding Phakeng raises concerns that there are forces within the university that are refusing to transform at the pace UCT requires.
In terms of the Senate the current demographics of this structure is 66% white. Ndlovu said that it must have been a challenge for Phakeng, who is considered very strong and professional in transformation, to work in a structure that is dominantly white.
In 2019 the university announced that its executive non-academic leadership team was all-female.
In 2022, the BAC put a motion through to debate how to diversify the profile of the Senate and Ndlovu said they are clear about the issue of diversifying the demographics of this structure.
Ndlovu said that while UCT seeks to appoint a new Vice-Chancellor, the institution may face similar issues in the future if they don't carry out proper investigations or analyses.
In 2020 the University's Ombud submitted a report to the Council that reported an a climate of fear at the institution and a culture of 'bullying' from VC Phakeng. It was reported that there were at least 37 formal complaints about the Vice-Chancellor that were made by respondents of all races and genders. The report was never fully dealt with by the university structures while Phakeng was VC and the charges could not be tested.
If a full investigation had taken place VC Phakeng would have had the opportunity to clear her name and reputation. However as she has accepted the offer of a settlement (believed to include at R12 million payout) the issues will not be discussed.).
In a statement the UCT Council Chairperson Babalwa Ngonyama said that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, Professor Sue Harrison is currently serving as the Acting Vice-Chancellor.
The Council is working on the matter of the appointment of an interim Vice-Chancellor and it has confirmed that it is currently following the process as prescribed by the UCT Statute.
