Dr Zamambo Mkhize, a social scientist at the University of Cape Town (UCT), has broken her silence on the so-called "Forest Hill incident," stating she never complained about Vice-Chancellor Prof Mosa Moshabela or the wellness check at the center of his legal battle with the university council. In an affidavit filed in the Western Cape high court, Mkhize expressed her concerns about the continued investigation into the November 2025 incident.
According to Mkhize, she had fallen seriously ill several days before the incident and was taking strong medication that caused her to sleep for extended periods. On November 13, 2025, she left her cellphone charging on silent in the dining room and went to bed before 8 pm. She later woke to knocking and heard a man announce himself three times before entering her bedroom. The man, Grant de Monk, said he worked for Moshabela and had been sent to check on her after her mother became concerned.
Mkhize had previously met de Monk in January 2025 and explained her situation to him. He offered to call an ambulance, but she declined, and he asked her to contact her mother. Mkhize thanked de Monk for the wellness check before he left. Her mother later confirmed that she had contacted Moshabela, believing he could arrange for someone to check on her daughter's welfare.
Nearly four months later, on March 2, 2025, Mkhize received a call from a woman identifying herself as an attorney from Fairbridges Attorneys, requesting a meeting. At the March 4 meeting, Mkhize was repeatedly asked to recount what happened on November 13. Investigators asked whether de Monk had announced himself three times before entering her bedroom, which she confirmed. However, Mkhize's central question remained unanswered: why was a wellness check she had never complained about being investigated?
Mkhize alleges that one panel member became "visibly agitated" when she repeatedly gave the same account and declined to characterize the incident differently. She respected the investigation's confidentiality and expected the same protection for her privacy. Mkhize later learned that details of the "incident at Forest Hill residence" appeared in correspondence sent to Moshabela and copied to his attorney, but important parts of her account were omitted.
The Forest Hill dispute comes amid broader questions about the investigation into Moshabela. Former UCT staff member Wina Venter separately stated that she discovered her name had allegedly been recorded as the source of a misconduct complaint against Moshabela, which she claims she never made. UCT council has since suspended implementation of the four resolutions challenged by Moshabela pending the outcome of his judicial review application.
Mkhize argues that the conduct of this investigation and its aftermath has denied her agency, dignity, and privacy. She believes that continuing the investigation would misuse university resources and regard further questioning as harassment. As an advocate for female autonomy, Mkhize objects to having her voice silenced and disregarded by people in authority.
Key points
- Dr Zamambo Mkhize never complained about the wellness check by a representative of Vice-Chancellor Prof Mosa Moshabela.
- The Forest Hill incident is one of the most contentious issues in Moshabela's legal challenge against the UCT council.
- Mkhize's affidavit raises questions about how matters involving UCT staff came to be incorporated into the vice-chancellor's investigation and how the individuals concerned were identified.
