UCT council apologises ‘unreservedly’ to former executive who was forced to resign

The University of Cape Town (UCT) council chairperson has issued an "unreserved apology" to a former senior executive who was forced to take early retirement during vice-chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng's tenure.

Norman Arendse informed Dr Russell Ally, who was the executive director of the Development and Alumni Department until June 2021, that the circumstances leading to his resignation were "clearly the cause of much distress to you and your family".

The apology on behalf of the council follows a final report from a four-member independent panel, chaired by Judge Lex Mpati, the former president of the Supreme Court of Appeal, into governance shortcomings at the university from 2018 to 2022.