University of Cape Town (UCT) council chair Norman Arendse is facing increased scrutiny as more people deny having made complaints attributed to them during an investigation into vice-chancellor Mosa Moshabela.

Moshabela took office as vice chancellor in August 2024. Less than a year later, in June 2025, he was informed that the university’s Ombud had received 21 complaints relating to his interactions with staff. By December, the Ombud had recorded 39 approaches from staff and students, of which 31 remained open.

UCT subsequently appointed senior advocates Alex Freund and Tanya Golden to conduct an independent investigation. The investigation ultimately covered 34 complaints, although only one was substantively put to Moshabela for a response. When the investigation was completed in May this year, the UCT council decided that none of the 34 complaints warranted disciplinary proceedings against him.

Council nevertheless said the investigators had raised concerns about aspects of Moshabela’s behaviour and adopted several measures, including executive coaching, regular performance assessments, and a further investigation into a separate incident involving a UCT academic. Moshabela challenged four of those resolutions in the Western Cape High Court, arguing that he had not been given the investigators’ report or sufficient detail about the findings against him.

Questions about the original complaints have since intensified. Former UCT executive Jeff Murugan became the third person to publicly deny making a complaint attributed to him, saying he had never approached the university Ombud about Moshabela. Former staff member Wina Venter and UCT academic Zamambo Mkhize have also disputed complaints or concerns attributed to them.

Murugan has asked for an independent investigation into how his name became associated with the complaint and has offered to testify under oath. Seven UCT council members have separately alleged that the independent investigation found some complaints presented by the Ombud were fabricated or attributed to people who did not exist or denied making them.

Arendse has defended the council’s handling of the matter. He said the council sought independent legal advice and external professionals and that acting when serious concerns are raised does not mean council has predetermined whether those concerns are true.

The dispute has also moved into court. Moshabela argues that he was not given sufficient details of the allegations or access to the investigators’ report before the council acted. Council has suspended implementation of the disputed resolutions while the review proceedings continue.

Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has spoken to both Arendse and Moshabela and requested a report from the council. Education expert Mary Metcalfe has meanwhile called for an independent assessor to establish what happened.