Letter of demand from Higher Education Transformation Network to the University of Cape Town:

Dr Max Price
Vice-Chancellor & Principal
University of Cape Town
Private Bag X3
Rondebosch
7701

RE: LETTER OF DEMAND

Date: 6th November 2014

We refer to our initial correspondence dated 16th and 23rd July 2014 as well as your response thereto.

We call on the UCT Council to exercise leadership by reversing the adoption and planned implementation of the new student admissions policy which we believe does not advance transformation in higher education. It is our submission as the Network that the UCT admissions policy will result in further marginalization of black and women applicants as it is an undeniable empirical truth that South Africa is the most unequal society in the world.

We submit that academic freedom does not include the right to keep the higher educational playing field tilted to perpetuate subordination nor does it represent the right of a privileged elite to act as exclusive gatekeepers of a publicly funded institution.

We allow the Council and management of the University of Cape Town (UCT) 7 days to comply with our request failing which we will proceed with legal action until the above-mentioned objectives are attained.

Kindly note that your failure to respond to our letter of demand within the above-mentioned timelines will be regarded as an indication of UCT's rejection of our demand and intention to forge ahead with the implementation of the policy, an eventuality which will leave us with no further option but to initiate legal proceedings against the UCT through the relevant legal avenues.

Yours faithfully.

Lucky Thekisho (Mr)

Board Chairperson

Issued by HETN, November 6 2014

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