By Charmaine NdlelaÂ
The University of Cape Town (UCT) Council has suspended four resolutions concerning Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela pending the outcome of his judicial review application in the Western Cape High Court.
The decision follows a special Council meeting held on Saturday to consider the legal proceedings brought by Moshabela against four resolutions adopted by Council on 30 May.
Council said it had considered legal advice on the matter before resolving to suspend the implementation of the four resolutions pending the final determination of the judicial review proceedings.
The latest development comes after an investigation whose mandate ultimately encompassed 34 complaints concerning Moshabela, according to his court papers.
Council reportedly decided against instituting disciplinary proceedings against the Vice-Chancellor following the investigation, but adopted four separate resolutions concerning him. Moshabela is challenging those four resolutions, Resolutions 3 to 6, in court. The separate resolution not to institute disciplinary proceedings is not part of his challenge.
The dispute has also brought renewed attention to complaints recorded by UCT’s Ombud, Nashira Abrahams.
According to Moshabela’s court papers, UCT Council member Malcolm Campbell informed the Vice-Chancellor on 30 June 2025 that the Ombud had received 21 complaints from staff relating to his “interactions with them”.
By December 2025, the Ombud had recorded 39 visits by staff and students concerning Moshabela, with eight matters marked as closed and 31 as open.
The court documents caution that these 39 recorded visits do not necessarily represent 39 different complainants.
Six of the open matters were categorised as three sexual harassment complaints, two complaints relating to discrimination based on culture and one relating to discrimination based on gender.
Council adopted a resolution on 14 February 2026 mandating that the 31 open matters be formally investigated.
UCT has said that it is constrained in what it can disclose publicly because of confidentiality obligations relating to matters before the Ombud and Council, as well as the ongoing court proceedings.
In its statement issued following Saturday’s meeting, Council said it would first follow the preliminary processes prescribed by the Rules of Court and await Moshabela’s supplementation of his court papers before deciding whether to oppose the review application.
Council also confirmed that it was willing to participate in mediation in an effort to resolve the dispute.
The decision to suspend the four resolutions means that the measures adopted by Council on 30 May will not be implemented while Moshabela’s legal challenge is before the High Court.
Council said its decision was intended to ensure that the litigation is handled in an “orderly, fair and legally appropriate manner”.
Council chairperson Norman Arendse said the governing body remained committed to protecting the rights of all parties involved, including UCT officers and institutions and the office of the Ombud.
“Council remains committed to acting in the best interests of UCT and to discharging its governance responsibilities in accordance with the law, the principles of fairness and accountability, and the values of the university,” Arendse said.
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