Executive Update: Thursday, 13 October 2016

UCT expects, by this weekend, to be in a position to make an announcement about the conclusion of the 2016 academic programme. The Senior Leadership Group will further develop the plan this afternoon (Thursday, 13 October) and Council will meet tomorrow (Friday, 14 October) to consider the plan, the current position on campus and the state of the engagements with protesting students. After the Council meeting, the plan will be communicated to all students, staff and parents.

The continued suspension of the academic programme has understandably caused much anxiety across the university. The UCT executive fully understand the damaging impact of not completing the academic year – on students, parents, staff, society and the university itself.

We have been in continuing discussions on options and scenarios that might enable students to conclude the 2016 academic year successfully. We will share these ideas with all stakeholders following the Council meeting.

Private security has been withdrawn from the campus until further notice to allow for more positive engagements.

The attempts to reach agreement with the protesting students continue.

We will be establishing an Institutional Reconciliation and Transformation Commission (IRTC), which will assist us in accelerating the building of a more inclusive university community.

Our objective is to create the best possible conditions under which all students, staff and workers will be able to return to full university activities without having to resort to the use of private security.

A complaint was laid with the South African Police Service (SAPS) after a group of about 70 protesters allegedly broke through the door into the offices of UCT's Campus Protection Services (CPS) on 12 October 2016. They are alleged to have intimidated staff members and to have forced them to vacate their workspaces. One member of the group, who could be identified and appeared to be the leader of the group and was making demands on their behalf, was arrested by SAPS.