More than 1,600 sign petition demanding UCT Council chair Norman Arendse’s resignation

More than 1,600 people have signed a petition initiated by University of Cape Town alumni calling for Council chair Advocate Norman Arendse to resign. Signatories accuse him of undermining public trust, breaching confidentiality and damaging the university’s reputation, and say his leadership has deepened divisions. The petition questions his handling of complaints against Vice-Chancellor Mosa Moshabela, alleging that Arendse discussed the matter publicly despite a Council-commissioned investigation reportedly clearing Moshabela. UCT says its Council has not received formal correspondence from recognised university stakeholders on the matter.