UCT council still in talks to choose new VC, but Moshabela is the senate’s frontrunner

Talks are still under way to choose a suitable candidate from three senior academics vying for the University of Cape Town (UCT) top job.

Daily Maverick understands that the council, which is also considering the terms of the conditions of employment, are still discussing the candidates, who are Professor Matlagolo Mosa Moshabela of the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), Professor José Frantz of the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) and Professor Nosisi Nellie Feza of the University of Venda (Univen).

Moshabela is currently the deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation at UKZN, Frantz is a deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation at UWC and Feza is the deputy vice-chancellor for research and postgraduate studies at Univen.

The clarification comes amid reports that UCT had appointed Moshabela, which was not officially confirmed, and that he appears to be the frontrunner and the preferred candidate put forward by the influential UCT senate.

Being preferred by the senate, however powerful the structure may be, does not automatically imply that Moshabela will be appointed for the post.

This was borne out in the UWC vice-chancellor recruitment process, which led to tensions between the senate and council.

Read in Daily Maverick: Battle between senate and council at UWC over vice-chancellor appointment process heats up

Other factors, such as the candidate not agreeing to the terms of conditions, could also play a part in the appointment process.

UCT had to search for a new vice-chancellor after the departure of Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng on 3 March 2023.

Professor Dayanand Reddy has been acting as interim vice-chancellor.

The new candidates made presentations to the university community on 4 April on the topic “UCT is ranked as the premier African university. What would your priorities, with specific actions, be in your first two years as VC to consolidate this status, taking into account both emerging opportunities and challenges, as well as the ongoing need for transformation of the institution?”.

An insider confirmed to Daily Maverick on Thursday, 16 May, the senate's position on Moshabela. 

“Well the senate voted overwhelmingly in support of his candidature. But you’ll need to contact the registrar’s office for confirmation,” the insider said.

Daily Maverick approached other university structures for comment, but they did not respond.

Echoing a UCT statement issued on Thursday, 16 May, Student Representative Council (SRC) president Hlamulo Khorommbi noted the appointment process was governed by the principle of confidentiality.

In its statement issued following the reports about Moshabela’s alleged appointment, UCT said: “The University of Cape Town (UCT) has noted media reports around the appointment of a new vice-chancellor (VC). The recruitment process for the appointment of the VC is ongoing. This process, like all other recruitment and selection processes, is governed by confidentiality. UCT will therefore provide further updates in due course, once all processes have been concluded.”

Khorommbi said that to preserve the integrity of the process, the SRC unfortunately could not answer questions about the appointment.

However, he said it should suffice that the SRC had been an integral part of the appointment process.

“We have made our views known in all stages of the appointment process and we will continue to do so until its finalisation,” he said.

Khorommbi said the SRC would rally behind whomever was eventually selected as the next vice-chancellor and trusted that the SRC’s views would be taken seriously. 

UCT spokesperson Elijah Moholola said the recruitment process for the appointment of the UCT vice-chancellor was ongoing.

“Noting that confidentiality is essential in all recruitment and selection processes, UCT will provide further updates in due course, once all processes have been concluded,” Moholola said.

About the three candidates