UCT Vice-Chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng cleans out her desk

University of Cape Town (UCT) has appointed a new Acting Vice-Chancellor with Vice-Chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng set to step down on Friday, 3 March 2023.

UCT Chair of Council Babalwa Ngonyama confirmed the news in a communication sent out on Wednesday, 1 March.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Internationalisation, Professor Sue Harrison, will serve as the Acting Vice-Chancellor.

ALSO READ: WATCH: UCT Prof Phakeng says she’s ‘okay’ and ‘happy’

“This arrangement is effective while Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng is on leave until her last day in office on Friday, 3 March 2023. Professor Harrison will act as Vice-Chancellor until such time that Council has confirmed the appointment of an interim Vice-Chancellor.

“Council is giving attention to the matter of the appointment of an interim Vice-Chancellor. We are following the process as prescribed by the UCT Statute. This requires that if the office of the Vice-Chancellor becomes vacant, Council – after consulting the Senate and the Institutional Forum – must appoint an interim Vice-Chancellor to hold office until such time as a new Vice-Chancellor takes up appointment,” said UCT Chair of Council Babalwa Ngonyama.

ALSO READ: UCT council to suspend Vice-chancellor Phakeng – report

Consultations are underway and Council will convene during the course of the week of 6 March 2023 to make a decision on the appointment of a new Vice-Chancellor.

Ngonyama requested members of the UCT community continue to exercise patience and understanding as they work towards finalising the important decisions that are before Council.

‘R12 MILLION HANDSHAKE’

This comes after reports that the UCT council reached a R12 million settlement agreement with her to leave the institution on early retirement.

ALSO READ: UCT VC, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, in hot water AGAIN

According to reports, the university council held a meeting late on Tuesday, 21 February where a settlement paving the way for the vice-chancellor’s departure was reached.

The agreement reportedly involved a R12 million “golden handshake.”

PHAKENG APPRECIATES HER SUPPORTERS

Since the reports, Phakeng took to her social media accounts to reassure her supporters that she is okay.

ALSO READ: Oprah Winfrey sings the praises of UCT VC, Mamokgethi Phakeng

She has also been posting messages of support from her supporters.

“Hey guys, I know you are worried about me and the hogwash that News24 has written, but I just wanted to tell you that I’m fine and happy. I really appreciate your messages of support, I’m getting them, and I’m reading them. Thank you,” said Phakeng in one video.