UCT Council suspends resolutions amid Vice-Chancellor's court challenge

The University of Cape Town (UCT) Council has suspended the implementation of four resolutions, which are currently under challenge by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela in the Western Cape High Court. This suspension came following a special Council meeting held on Saturday where members assessed the legal proceedings initiated by Moshabela and took legal counsel on the university's response.

UCT Council Chairperson Norman Arendse SC explained that the resolutions were introduced to ensure that the litigation was handled in an orderly, fair, and legally appropriate manner. The Council decided to adhere to the preliminary court processes and await Moshabela's additional submissions before deciding on a formal opposition to his review application. Additionally, the Council expressed its readiness to engage in mediation to resolve the dispute.

Professor Moshabela's legal challenge is primarily centered on his claim that he was not provided with the investigators' report and was not informed about the specific concerns related to his conduct. He also alleges that only one of the 34 complaints investigated was presented to him during the inquiry. Moshabela contends that the four Council resolutions were not adequately communicated to him, as he learned about them through a letter from UCT's Interim Registrar.

The Council recognized the significant public and university community interest in the dispute, while emphasizing the need to respect the ongoing legal proceedings and the rights of all involved parties, including the Ombud and the confidentiality of certain matters under investigation. UCT's Head of Media and Social Media, Elijah Moholola, stated that it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter while it remains before the court.