"HOW Prof Phakeng used ‘racism as a weapon’ at UCT."
These were some of the words used to describe former vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng in the report of the independent panel that looked into the leadership crisis at the University of Cape Town.
The independent panel, chaired by Supreme Court of Appeal president Judge Lex Mpati, found Phakeng and council chairwoman Babalwa Ngonyama guilty of serious failures in the governance of the institution.
The 179-page report was released on Wednesday, 1 November. The two were found guilty of misleading the university about the resignation of Professor Lis Lange as deputy vice-chancellor for Learning and Teaching.
While UCT Council chairman Norman Arendse acknowledged the failure of the university’s previous council and said they regretted not acting sooner and apologised unreservedly.
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Council has adopted the independent panel of investigation report on governance matters at UCT. Council acknowledges the past governance failures. Council regrets not acting sooner and apologises unreservedly. Council is considering the report…
— UCT (@UCT_news) November 1, 2023
Phakeng was portrayed as someone who exploited and promoted racial inequality within the university during her reign.
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"Phakeng repeatedly conducted herself unprofessionally by engaging in an activity that is prohibited in the UCT workplace, including using threats, intimidation, ethnic slurs, personal insults and also posting racially offensive material on social media," the report said.
This conclusion was reached after the panel received extensive written and oral evidence from members of the UCT community, including members of council, senate and the current executive.
The report also addressed the testimony of council deputy chairwoman Debbie Budlender, who supported Phakeng's appointment, saying that "she brought something new and different".
But soon after the appointment, the report revealed how problems arose with her leadership. These included her alleged poor relations with other deputy vice chancellors and "hostility to any criticism or comment from her peers, no matter how well meant".
"She appeared to believe that the criticism was aimed at undermining and victimising her because she was a 'small black woman', as she frequently described herself.
"She often mentioned that she was the only black woman at Bremner (the UCT’s administrative headquarters), which alienated her colleagues,” the report read.
