Feedback from the Council meeting of June 2025

Dear members of the university community

It is always an honour and a privilege to report back to you in relation to business conducted by Council.

As the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) highest decision-making authority, Council is accountable to you.

Council had an ordinary meeting on Saturday, 28 June 2025, attended by Council members mostly in person, while some participated online.

I report back on some of the highlights.

By way of introduction, I commended the entire university on achieving its highest Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) ranking in 10 years, climbing to 150th globally in the 2026 rankings released on 19 June 2025. This marks a 21-place rise from last year and places UCT firmly within the top 3% of just over 8 400 institutions evaluated – once again affirming our position as Africa’s leading university.

Credit must go to students, staff, the executive and our predecessors who served the university during the period reviewed.

This esteemed ranking also coincides with the highest B-BBEE ranking we achieved recently, which indicates that academic excellence and transformation go together.

We also recently celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, which forms the basis of all the rights and freedoms enjoyed by all our citizens, irrespective of race, colour, creed, gender or religion.

The highlight of the meeting was undoubtedly the respective reports tabled by the Audit and Risk Committee (UARC); and the University Finance Committee (UFC).

Council had inherited a deficit of some R360 million in relation to the General Operating Budget (GOB) in 2024. As a result of various initiatives instituted by UFC and the executive, there has been a turnaround to a forecast R30 million surplus on the GOB for 2025 financial year.

The university is also in a healthy cash operating surplus position, aided by various initiatives instituted by UFC and the Chief Financial Officer and his team under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor.

The Annual Financial Statement (AFS) for 2024 was approved and the independent auditors (PWC) issued an unqualified opinion in relation to the 2024 AFS.

Council approved the UCT Enrolment Plan for 2026–2030 for submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), which was piloted by the Deputy VC: Teaching and Learning through Senate for approval.

The Ombud was invited to present her Annual Report for 2024 and First Quarter Report for 2025. Her reports were noted and she was thanked for her role as the independent watchdog in relation to university matters.

Council also approved changes to the SRC Constitution and Election Regulations following a student governance review.

Council also considered a draft DHET Self-Assessment Scorecard for the 2024 academic year. Following inputs from Council members (and the previous Registrar and Interim VC), the report has been submitted to DHET. Of importance to note is that Council was scored as “functional” for the 2024 academic year.

The VC tabled a comprehensive report to Council on a number of key and prevailing issues for noting, including the UCT Fund Inc; an update on the university’s strategy development process; status of the implementation of the Gaza resolutions; the Development and Alumni Department Report on the implications of the DGF grant to the Neuroscience Institute; the VC’s action regarding distancing himself from an Academic Action petition; and progress and timelines in relation to the filling of critical positions, including that of the Registrar.

Sincerely

Norman Arendse (SC)
Chair of Council

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements