Cape Town - Three former UCT Convocation presidents concerned about the challenges at the university have urged Council to forge unity and seek lasting solutions that will enable an inclusive healing process.
Barney Pitjane, Lorna Houston, and Eddy Maloka have spoken out in their individual capacity, as UCT alumni and due to their commitment to the university as their alma mater.
In a statement on Monday, the ex presidents said they met virtually on October 9 to exchange views following the recent reports about the September 30 Senate meeting, the Special Council meeting on October 6, the Concerned Members of the UCT Council statement issued on October 7 and the university’s responses.
They said their point of entry was and should be the protection of brand UCT and its reputation, as well as issues of good governance and academic freedom on campus.
“We believe in a UCT that has the capacity to face itself – it has done so in recent years with the Institutional Reconciliation and Transformation Commission, albeit with difficulty. The women-led executive at UCT has been an inspiration to many young women in our country. It is very disconcerting to hear that some people have resigned and signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs),” they said.
They suggested that the university leadership avoid the temptation of “defensiveness and sweeping challenges under rugs” at the cost of finding solutions.
“UCT leadership (must) consider sharing with the University community the commissioned report by retired Justice of the Constitutional Court Froneman, with Kgomotso Moroka SC, on governance at UCT,” they said.
Cape Times