Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

2 min read | 11:50 am CAT

Lawyers representing the UCT Academics’ Union have joined the fray at the University of Cape Town, which is facing a governance crisis. Lawyers for the Union have written to the UCT Council demanding that the body remedy the illegality of its recent actions or face legal proceedings.

Daily Maverick reported that it had seen the lawyer’s letter. This refers to the UCT Council meeting last Thursday, at which council members voted to launch an investigation into the UCT Senate rather than look into governance concerns around university vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng and council chair Babalwa Ngonyama.

In an interview with Radio Islam International, ActionSA’s UCT Vice Chairman, Matthew George, said the concerns are the leadership style and how the governance structure has been crafted. Instead of focusing on the issues related to students and staff members at the University.

He said this led to a hostile environment in which different personalities began to clash.

The concern for both ActionSA and the boarder public is the issue seems to have spilt over into a case where volatility now defines how the University is currently managed.

“That goes against the primary mandate of what the institution is meant to do. Which is to cater to the needs of students as well as ensure its mandate around teaching and learning is achieved,” he says.

Meanwhile, the challenges students face include the unreliable energy supply affecting teaching and learning at the University.

The SRC president had highlighted in her communication to News24 that students want the basics to get done right. This includes learning getting underway without impediments by these unfolding by senates and councils.

Listen below to the interview with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie and Matthew George on Radio Islam’s podcast.