University of Cape Town (UCT) Vice Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng has been admitted to hospital where she was receiving treatment.
Phakeng has taken time off her official duties following her admission to hospital.
This was confirmed by the university’s chair of council, Babalwa Ngonyama, in a statement.
“The vice-chancellor, professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, was admitted to hospital on Monday, 5 December, and has had to take time away earlier than her scheduled annual leave, which was to have commenced in just a few days,” said Ngonyama.
She said: “Given the stress, the vice-chancellor has been under, this time away from the office will also serve to give her a bit of rest.”
Ngonyama said the UCT council met on Tuesday and asked the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Elelwani Ramugondo to fulfil the role of acting Vice-Chancellor in the interim.
“Along with the UCT senior leadership team, I have no doubt that the university is in capable hands during the Vice-Chancellor’s absence.
“The university council is united in stabilising the situation, and is concerned for Professor Phakeng’s health,” she said.
“I am certain you will join the Council in wishing the Vice-Chancellor a speedy and full recovery. We have gone through a difficult few months, and my hope is that we will all come together as a united community to safeguard and strengthen our beloved university,” she added.
Phakeng is under immense pressure after the UCT council voted to appoint a retired judge and independent panel to probe allegations of misconduct against her and Ngonyama.
At the heart of the probe was whether Phakeng and Ngonyama misled the university’s executive and Senate about the reasons for the departure of the deputy-vice chancellor for teaching and learning, Associate Professor Lis Lange. They said Lange resigned for personal reasons, while Lange claimed she was pushed to resign.
The university is yet to make a formal announcement about the independent probe.
Source: News24, IOL, Sowetan Live, Polity, Daily Maverick, image from Twitter: @TheTruthPanther