UCT Vice Chancellor, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng.
- UCT Vice Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng has been given time off.
- Council Chairman Babalwa Ngonyama announced last week that Phakeng would be placed on sick leave.
- Phakeng will return to his position when his annual leave ends on January 9, 2023.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) council has announced that the university’s vice-chancellor, Mamokgethi Phakeng, will have more free time after being released from hospital last Friday.
Council Chairman Babalwa Ngonyama announced last week that Phakeng would be placed on sick leave, after what Ngonyama called a “stressful” time.
News24 understands that Phakeng was furious with Ngonyama for bringing up the issue of stress in a press release, announcing Phakeng’s absence from campus.
Shortly after being admitted to the hospital, Phakeng posted a video on Twitter showing her eating chocolate ice cream in a hospital bed and laughing when the person filming the video asked her about stress.
In a statement late Monday, Ngonyama said: “At the time of hospitalization, while acting with caution and under uncertain circumstances at the time, the council agreed to grant Professor Phakeng additional time off before her vacation period. annuals, which was scheduled to begin on Friday, December 16.”
READ | UCT crisis: Council removes vice president, Mpati panel confirms
Ngonyama said he had a “cordial” in-person engagement with Phakeng, who accepted the offer of time off for the rest of the week, before his scheduled annual leave.
“In accordance with the decision made by the council on Tuesday, December 6, Professor Elelwani Ramugondo, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Response, will continue to serve as interim Vice Chancellor,” she said.
Phakeng will return to his position when his annual leave ends on January 9, 2023.
The announcement comes after a special council meeting on Friday night.
The university council confirmed the appointment of the retired president of the Supreme Court of Appeals, Justice Lex Mpati, to head a panel to investigate allegations of mismanagement against Phakeng and Ngonyama.
The two are accused of misleading the senate and council about the real reasons for the early departure of assistant vice chancellor for teaching and learning, Lis Lange.
According to information obtained by News24, the panel’s deadline to investigate the allegations against Phakeng and Ngonyama was extended from December 31 to the end of March.
