Former University of Cape Town (UCT) vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng talks about her experiences there. Phakeng talks about her life in the city, the difficulties she faced, and her ongoing book project in an interview with Kaya FM.
The University of Cape Town’s previous female vice chancellor gave reflections on the period of UCT collapse. Since 2018, Phakeng has served as UCT’s vice chancellor. She declared her intention to retire early in February 2023.
Several scandals have surfaced during her time at UCT, and she found it difficult to handle student and administrative concerns while also dealing with the emotional burden of her son’s condition.
“The family as a whole had to argue,” Phakeng stated.
According to Phakeng, her kid was been given a cancer diagnosis. In addition to undergoing chemotherapy, he required a transplant. She found it difficult to focus in this scenario and to take care of everything at once.
Phakeng remarked, “The messages he was sending us felt like farewells.”
Her mental health suffered as a result of this, what Phakeng called, “hectic” era.
Phakeng said, “I had experienced suicidal thoughts,” and she said that she had a functional neurological condition diagnosis. She has now continued to see a neurological psychiatrist and physician on a regular basis.
“I did not make progress in my writing because of what I was dealing with.”
Phakeng declared that she had resumed writing on her book, which would include a description of her trip to Cape Town. She did point out that the drama will have its own book, though.
She advised the youth to not set boundaries for themselves in anything they do.
She remarked, “You are never a one thing,” and that she had “managed to do well in both administrative positions and as an academic professor.”
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