Are universities losing their independence due to donor influence? Iqbal Jassat explores the University of Cape Town's funding crisis and the implications for academic freedom.
Are we witnessing the demise of universities as centres of independent thought, where academic inquiry is protected from political interference?
I raise this question given the controversy surrounding the University of Cape Town's (UCT) reported loss of R250 million in donor funding following its Gaza resolutions.
It demonstrates how quickly financial power can be deployed to punish institutions that depart from a political script preferred by donors.
The issue extends far beyond UCT.
