From the Registrar
Completed whistle-blowing investigations for 2024
02 July 2025 | Associate Professor Kathy Idensohn, Interim RegistrarDear colleagues and students
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of an externally operated university whistleblower hotline. The decision to establish an externally managed hotline was made by the Risk Management Executive Committee in 2015.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) whistle-blowing hotline provides staff, students and third parties with a mechanism to report or alert the university management about matters which may not have been detected through regular internal controls.
The hotline is occasionally referred to as an ethics or fraud hotline and operates on strict principles of confidentiality and anonymity. Over the past decade, the hotline has demonstrated its efficacy as a valuable management tool.
The university remains resolute in its commitment to fostering an ethical and compliance culture. At the university, the hotline serves as a conduit for concerned employees and students, as well as third parties affiliated with the university to report instances of fraudulent, corrupt and unethical conduct within the institution. Consequently, the university management does not have direct access to the hotline and relies solely on reports of complaints provided by the service provider after complainants have initiated contact with the hotline.
To effectively manage the hotline, the university has implemented several checks and balances. In 2023, the Council approved the university’s comprehensive whistleblowing policy to support the governance of whistleblowing. This policy outlines, among other matters, the diverse roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders involved in the whistleblowing process.
The Risk Office and Internal Audit receive reports of hotline complaints from the service provider and pass them on to management for investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, an outcome is communicated back to the service provider, which is relayed to the whistleblower. Oversight of hotline activity trends is exercised at all risk management meetings and university Audit and Risk Committee meetings.
In 2024, the university whistle-blowing hotline received a total of 40 reports. Thirty-seven of them were successfully investigated and an outcome communicated accordingly. Disciplinary actions were taken in cases involving unethical behaviour or misconduct.
Below is a summary of some of the cases received during 2024.
Case 1:
Complaint: A caller raised an irregularity concerning a student admission and potential conflicts of interest.
Outcome: An investigation revealed that the admission concerned was based on the exceptional achievement of the learner and there was no undue influence in the admissions process.
Case 2:
Complaint: A caller reported a potential conflict of interest involving a member of staff.
Outcome: The investigation brought to light a discrepancy in the conflict-of-interest declaration in the case in question. The affected staff member was instructed by management to prevent a recurrence of the issues raised and was informed that their Head of Department would be apprised of any potential conflicts.
Case 3:
Complaint: A caller reported an online platform hosted by an external party claiming to have a qualification from the university.
Outcome: A thorough investigation was conducted. Management noted the severity of the matter and reported it to the South African Police Services for further attention.
Case 4:
Complaint: A caller raised concerns about the ill-treatment of certain students.
Outcome: Following an investigation, corrective measures were implemented and the necessary consequence management instituted.
Case 5:
Complaint: A caller raised concerns about recruitment irregularities in one of the faculties/departments.
Outcome: Due to the insufficiently detailed nature of the complaint, management was unable to investigate the matter. Management requested additional information through the hotline, but after several months of waiting without any further details, the case was closed. It is imperative that when complaints are filed, sufficient information is provided to facilitate a comprehensive and meaningful investigation, failing which the matter will be closed.
Case 6:
Complaint: A caller reported abuse of UCT property by several staff members.
Outcome: The investigation confirmed misuse of university resources. The university took appropriate corrective action and its financial losses were successfully recovered.
The hotline plays a crucial role in ensuring compliance with university policies and upholding ethical standards. Management occasionally engages in collective or individual discussions with university community members regarding matters relating to the whistle-blowing hotline.
For further information on the operation of the whistle-blowing hotline, please contact Shai Makgoba, the director responsible for risk compliance and relationship management at UCT. Departments and faculty groups can request a presentation on the hotline activities and operations by contacting him at 021 650 2754 or via email.
Sincerely
Associate Professor Kathy Idensohn
Interim Registrar
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