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UCT is facing a serious backlash that includes the potential withdrawal of US funding that will lead to job losses and its ability to fund its research and training, all because of its stance on Israel's war in Gaza.
The potential UCT funding crisis gained attention this week when US online publication Breitbart News published an article titled "UCT Launches Witch Hunt After Breitbart News Exposé of Funding Collapse After Anti-Israel Boycott," prompting a swift response from UCT.
The article is the latest from the news outlet that is adding to the rapidly ratcheting up tensions between South Africa and America after Donald Trump was elected president.
An article by Breitbart last week, South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool: Trump is Leading Global White Supremacist Movement, came to the attention of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who last Friday declared Ebrahim Rasool, South Africa’s ambassador to the US, persona non grata, saying “he is no longer welcome in our great country.” Rubio reposted an article from right-wing website Breitbart that quoted the envoy as saying that Trump was leading a white supremacist movement.
This latest article by the US news outlet spells trouble for UCT.
Norman Arendse SC, the chair of the UCT Council, issued a statement on Monday defending the university and shedding light on a council meeting held the previous Saturday, March 15, 2025.
He highlighted that the funding crisis is tied to a potential cut from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), which provides UCT with over R200 million annually - making it the largest non-US recipient of these grants.
UCT funded activities.
Image: UCT annual report
The threat aligns with a shift in US foreign policy, reinforced by executive orders that could terminate this critical support. Arendse noted that Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela had warned of the dire situation, with individual donor contributions already dropping from R77 million to R28m over the past year. He cautioned that losing NIH funding could cripple the Faculty of Health Sciences, a cornerstone of medical research and training.
The council’s statement also addressed UCT’s decision to uphold a boycott of Israeli universities, first enacted in June 2024.
On June 22, 2024, the UCT Council adopted two resolutions on the Gaza conflict, previously passed by the UCT Senate on April 19, 2024. The first condemned the "destruction of scholarship and education in Gaza," calling for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian aid, the release of captives (reaffirming a Senate resolution from November 17, 2023), and international support to rebuild Gaza’s education sector, while expressing solidarity with persecuted academics. The second barred UCT academics from collaborating with research groups linked to the Israeli Defence Force or broader Israeli military establishment.
Despite the financial stakes, a motion to reverse this boycott failed narrowly (13-14) at the March 15 meeting. Arendse defended the decision, stating, “The university remains committed to its core values: truth, fairness, consistency, and integrity.” He expressed confidence in the Vice-Chancellor’s efforts to address the shortfall, though UCT remains on “high alert” for any formal defunding notice from the U.S.
The situation intensified on March 18, when Breitbart News reported a two-thirds drop in private donations since the boycott, citing an unnamed council member. The article quoted a speaker saying: "We need every cent we can get. No amount of donor funding will replace what we’ve lost from USAID, the federal government, and NIH. The VC’s report reflects a catastrophic drop in individual donor funding, from R77 million to R28 million. We’re chasing away money when we need it most." Breitbart also claimed hundreds of academic jobs could be cut due to recent losses.
In response, UCT outlined immediate steps: Acting Registrar Professor Kathy Idensohn proposed a quasi-judicial inquiry into the leak, while Arendse called an urgent executive meeting, requiring council members to submit affidavits denying involvement. The council’s statement read: “We note with grave concern that some deliberations and voting outcomes were recorded and leaked to a U.S.-based online media house. The article contains near-verbatim statements from a council member, alongside false and misleading commentary.” Several members requested a security breach investigation—ironically, an agenda item deferred due to time constraints and Ramadan.
Moshabela said UCT is exploring alternative funding, though the council rejected a proposed task team. Arendse added, “The VC reported on a well-run university maintaining high standards. Student enrolment is up, with 26 of 37 top 2024 matriculants who applied now enrolled at UCT.”
UCT on Thursday declined to comment further on the funding issue, nor quantify how many jobs are on the line. The Cape Chamber of Commerce & Industry said they will comment next week. Weekend Argus is also awaiting feedback from the Western Cape government.
UCT’s global standing—ranked 116th by US News Best Global Universities and 77th in the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings - could falter if research capacity weakens.
In 2023, UCT’s revenue rose 11.2% to R8.63 billion, driven by research contracts, goods and services, and donations, per its annual financial review . With 5 000 staff and 29 000 students from over 100 countries, UCT remains a vibrant community contributing to the Cape Town economy.
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