University of Cape Town / Newsroom & publications / Talking points

Admissions Policy debate

Archive: 2011

Finweek

On 21 January 2011, vice-chancellor Dr Max Price responded to F Coetzer's article (Standard deviations, 3 December 2010) about race-based admissions criteria.

Article

Finweek headline: Statistical thinking

Dr Max Price, vice-chancellor responds. "Coetzer responds to the explanation of the admissions policy at the University of Cape Town (in a letter from Gerda Kruger, 4 November) by attempting to reinforce columnist Stephen Mulholland's previous assertion that by admitting some students with lower matric marks than others, the University of Cape Town will produce groups of 'mediocre' students and 'brilliant' students."(Read the full article.)

Politcsweb

On 12 May 2011, James Myburgh wrote an article on Politicsweb on how the university betrayed itself.

Article

Politcsweb headline: Racial quotas at UCT, by James Myburgh

Over the past few months the American media has taken something of an interest in the race-based admissions policy of the University of Cape Town. In late November the New York Times ran an article on the topic, and in the past week National Public Radio has run a similar report. (Read the full article.)

Politcsweb

On 17 May 2011, executive director of communications & marketing at UCT, Gerda Kruger, wrote an article in response to James Myburgh.

Article

Politcsweb headline: UCT and race: A reply to James Myburgh, by Gerda Kruger

Mr Myburgh's article "Racial quotas at UCT", Politicsweb, 12 May 2011, refers. Mr Myburgh implies that the University of Cape Town's values have changed since 1994 because we now ask (not require) students to identify themselves under racial classifications. He further insinuates that we have adopted an "ANC driven African nationalist" and racist agenda instead of speaking out against it and that this represents a profound intellectual failure on the part of the University. (Read the full article.)

The Herald

On 19 May, the Herald published an article by Izette Lubbe in which she stated that quotas at UCT thwart white students

Article

The Herald headline: Rejected on colour, by Reetha Grobbelaar

Izette Lubbe got seven distinctions in matric last year and was a sporting genius - but she was still not good enough to qualify for three of South Africa's medical schools. (Read the full article.)

The Times

On 19 May UCT's Gerda Kruger, wrote an article in The Times in response to the article"Mbeki unveils his public policy plan", published on 4 May.

Article

The Times headline: Mbeki public policy story distorted facts about UCT, by Gerda Kruger

The article quotes Mojanku Gumbi, previously the chief adviser to Mbeki when he was president, as having said: "Some of the best trained architects and engineers are from the University of Cape Town, but they hate themselves as Africans. They don't want to be Africans." (Read the full article.)

Business Day (30 May)

On 30 May, Business Day published a response by UCT's executive director: Communication & Marketing, Gerda Kruger, regarding Gavin Lewis' letter, Shame on us for tolerating Manyi's peasantry, 24 May

Article

Business Day headline: UCT aims at redress

The article by Gavin Lewis (Shame on us for tolerating Manyi's peasantry, May 24) refers. It is unfair to point to the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) admissions policy as an example of "racism". The purpose of UCT's admissions policy is to help provide a form of redress for the dismal state of public education in SA, which puts most of its learners (who are mostly black and coloured) at a horrific disadvantage when it comes to competing for a place in higher education. (Read the full article.)

Also on 30 May, Business Day published a response by Sean Muller to the same letter by Gavin Lewis

Article

Business Day headline: Doubly irresponsible

Sir - Gavin Lewis complains that I have not 'done my homework' (Engaged on Identity, Letters, May 27). I ask forgiveness. I was mistakenly under the impression, having written a few myself that opinion pieces were supposed to be self-contained. (He adds): That said, it is not clear to me how that would exculpate him: if he knows so much about affirmative action, then he is being doubly responsible in taking such swipes at the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) Max Price. (Read the full article.)

Business Day (31 May)

On 31 May Business Day published responses by Ken Owen and Gavin Barnett to Gerda Kruger's letter UCT aims at redress (Business Day, 30 May)

Article

Business Day headline: UCT policy flawed

Ken Owen wrote: "Gerda Kruger (UCT aims at redress, Letters, May 30) indulges in some sleight of hand in defending the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) racially determined affirmative action policy." (Read the full article.)

Article

Business Day headline: Exceptionally unfair

Gavin Barnett wrote: "Gerda Kruger's letter (UCT aims at redress, May 30) claims "the admissions policy is intended to allow exceptional students from all walks of life to earn a degree ..." The word "all" is an obvious contradiction of the stated policy because university capacity has resulted in turning away many exceptional applicants in specified walks of life while admitting some less exceptional ones." (Read the full article.)

On 31 May, DearJon, writing in his blog said:

Colour code your Doctor and live longer

"Dear Doctor Max Price, Vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, 'Mrs Smith I'm the hospital Superintendent and I'm sorry to have to tell you that Doctor Nzimande gave you a hysterectomy instead of removing your appendix. But it wasn't his fault because he got his doctor's degree at the University of Cape Town.' (Read the full article.)

Business Day

On 1 June, Business Day published various letters regarding the admissions policy.

Mike Reid wrote:

Whites have to get As

I refer to the letters from Ken Owen and Gavin Barnett criticising the University of Cape Town's student admission policy (Exceptionally unfair, and UCT policy flawed, May 31). I agree with them. However, I wonder whether the policy has been imposed on universities by the Department of Higher Education. In an interview with spokesmen from the University of Pretoria and Wits University broadcast on Radio 702 last year, both attempted to justify very similar admission policies. (Read the full article.)

Mayihlome Tshwete wrote:

Owen Hates the ANC

The letters sent in by Ken Owen (Simply declare yourself coloured, May 25 and UCT policy flawed, May 31) epitomise the detachment of some our fairer-toned fellow countrymen. First, who coined this ridiculous concept of "born free" and what does it mean - that somehow if you were born post- 1994 that all the systematic strategies implemented to disadvantage Africans simply disappeared with a whisk of Madiba's glaring smile while he stood over the ballot box? (Read the full article.)

Gerda Kruger wrote:

UCT is all about merit

Gavin Barnett states that the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) admissions policy "lower(s) standards both in admissions and subsequently in student as well as career performance", (Exceptionally unfair, Letters, May 31). This is not true. Once a student is admitted to any course of study at UCT, that student must graduate on merit. UCT does not lower its standards for graduation. (Read the full article.)

On 3 June, Business Day published letters from Graham Smith, a UCT alumnus in London and Ken Owen of Claremont.

Graham Smith wrote:

UCT will lose status

"I am a graduate of the University of Cape Town (UCT) and have always been proud of the university." He says, "I was considerably dismayed to see the content of recent letters to Business Day regarding the admissions practices of UCT. These are racialistic and cannot be justified or condoned in any form." (Read the full article.)

Ken Owen wrote:

"Reasonable people will be reassured by Gerda Kruger's admission ( UCT is all about merit , Letters, June 1) that the University of Cape Town's entry policy is imperfect but that the university is trying hard to find alternative methods to replace the use of race as an indicator of disadvantage." (He added) "I do not wish to blunder into matters beyond my competence, but it is worth noting that a growing majority of the country's richest quintile is not white, and the use of race as a proxy for disadvantage grows obsolete." (Read the full article.)

Sunday Times

On 5 June, The Sunday Times published an article by Mondli Makhanya on the admissions debate.

Article

Sunday Times headline: Ugly omens of a yawning racial divide

On May 31, 30 years ago, the National Party government gathered its sheep at venues around the country to celebrate 20 years of the existence of the apartheid republic. (he adds) You need only to have read the letters pages in Business Day about the University of Cape Town's entrance policy this week to see the extent of polarisation in this country. (Read the full article.)

Business Day

On 6 June, Business Day published a letter by Amanda Ngwenya, President of the UCT Students Representative Council.

Article

Business Day headline: UCT admission policy perpetuates a perverse idea of fairness

RECENT debate around the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) admissions policy, which uses race to classify and admit applicants, has focused on the discriminatory and absurd nature of racial classification. Valid as these concerns are, they tend to have the unintended consequence of implying that if race were an obvious thing to pin down - say, such as the colour of one's eyes - it might be reasonable to classify and admit people by it. (Read the full article.)

Article

On 7 June, Business Day published letters in response to Amanda Ngwenya's letter.

Dr Gavin Lewis, Democratic Alliance MPL, Gauteng wrote:

Business Day headline: Great insight, Amanda

Living in SA is like spending your life on a roller-coaster of emotions. At times you may feel depressed and gloomy about the future. But just when it seems things are about to fall apart, the people of SA exhilarate you with uplifting, intelligent flashes of insight. (Read the full article.)

Article

Philip Lloyd of Rosebank in Cape Town wrote:

Business Day headline: Students much wiser

Yessss! Amanda Ngwenya (UCT admission policy perpetuates a perverse idea of fairness, June 6) shows that the student leadership is far wiser than the university's. (Read the full article.)

On 7 June, Business Day also published a letter from G Heath of Kloof:

Article

Business Day headline: Dedication necessary

"We dedicate ourselves to the tasks that lie ahead: to maintain our established rights to determine who should teach, what shall be taught and how it shall be taught in this university, and to strive to regain the right to determine who shall be taught, without regard to any criterion except academic merit" (Dedication signed by chancellor, vice-chancellor, and others at Jameson Hall, University of Cape Town, July 29 1959). Quo vadis, UCT? (Read the full article.)

On 9 June, Professor Ben Turok MP of Mowbray, Cape Town wrote:

Business Day headline: Sink or Swim at UCT?

The discussion about admissions policy at the University of Cape Town (UCT) is very valuable. It is time we began talking about difficult issues openly. There can be no doubt that the racial composition of students at UCT has changed. In my time there was not a single black student in most faculties, so let us celebrate progress. But admissions policy is not the only concern of black students and I hope some staff members would enlighten us about the broader issues of student integration. (Read the full article.)

On 10 June, Gerda Kruger of the Communication & Marketing Department at UCT wrote in response to Graham Smith's 3 June letter to Business Day:

Business Day headline: UCT fosters diversity

Graham Smith (UCT will lose status, Letters, June 3) attaches the admissions policy at the University of Cape Town (UCT) to three potential outcomes: the emigration of young South Africans; the descent of UCT into mediocrity; and the university's loss of status internationally. Since Mr Smith writes from London, it is surprising that he is worried about South Africans moving overseas. We expect UCT graduates to consider opportunities to travel and work in other countries - just as we encourage foreign students to come to UCT. (Read the full article.)

On 13 June, Gerda Kruger of the Communication & Marketing Department at UCT wrote in response to Professor Ben Turok's article:

Business Day headline: Swimming Lessons

Prof Ben Turok (Sink or swim at UCT?, Letters, June 9) asks whether the broader issues of pedagogy are considered at the University of Cape Town and what has been the outcome. UCT, like other universities in SA, each year receives an intake of first-year students who reflect a broad range of academic abilities. As a result of the poor delivery of the basic education system, many first-year students have no experience with the assumptions that underlie first-year courses such as maths, physics, chemistry, life sciences or computer science. (Read the full article.)

On 13 June, Maximilian Popescu of Parkhurst wrote in response to Gerda Kruger's letter on 10 June:

Business Day headline: Diversity from merit

Gerda Kruger's letter (UCT fosters diversity, June 10) refers. The basis on which UCT selects students is certainly not unique, especially in a South African context. This admissions policy should not, however, be substantiated as an effort to create diversity. A merit-based admissions system achieves this on its own, as demonstrated by the diversity inherent in any of the world's top academic institutions. (Read the full article.)

On 22 June, Business Day published a letter by UCT Chair of Council, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane:

Business Day headline: No better admission policy than race - for now

WE HAVE seen a growing diversity in the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) graduands over the years. Last year's cohort of 3 217 undergraduate students was roughly equal in each gender. Of the group, 12% were international students. A further 42% were local white students and 44% local black students, while a small group had not classified themselves. No longer is the black graduand unusual or the graduation dominated by males. This is a powerful measure of UCT's success in transformation. UCT's admission policy - the necessary condition of this diversity - has been the subject of much public debate. The UCT council is responsible for this policy. (Read the full article.)

On 23 June, Business Day published a letter by Frans Cronje, Deputy CEO, South African Institute of Race Relations, Unit for Risk Analysis in response to Archbishop Ndungane:

Business Day headline: Pathetic policy

What a disappointing performance by Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane in seeking to defend the admissions policy of the University of Cape Town (No better admission policy than race - for now, June 22). The council of the university can surely not be so ignorant of SA to believe that race remains a good indicator of disadvantage. (Read the full article.)

On 24 June, Business Day published a letters in response to the article by UCT Chair of Council, Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane:

Ken Owen wrote

Business Day headline: Hitler's policy at UCT

Dr Njongonkulu Ndungane's explanation of UCT's admissions policy (No better admission policy than race - for now, June 22) raises more questions. He claims success on the grounds that "black" graduands now outnumber "white" graduands, and says the discrimination on the basis of race as defined by apartheid will continue, presumably until white graduands constitute no more than 9% of the total, in proportion to their numbers in the general population. This was precisely the policy applied to Jews at German universities by an edict signed in 1933 by Adolf Hitler and as such is noxious, but I do not want to quibble. (Read the full article.)

G Heath of Kloof wrote:

Business Day headline: Turning back the clock

With reference to the article by Njongonkulu Ndungane, (No better admission policy than race - for now, June 22), I need to remind readers that in the Jagger Library at the University of Cape Town there exists a splendid reminder, in the form of a solemn plaque, of the need for academic freedom, and academic excellence as the only criterion for admittance of students at any university. This dedication has, in Latin, the words "Monumentum hoc aeneum dedicavit cancellarius ereptae libertatis academicae quae. Deficit anno MCMLX. Rediit anno.." (Read the full article.)

In Rapport on 25 June, Prof Joan Hambidge who teaches literature and creative writing at UCT, wrote:

Rapport headline: Repliek: Regstellende aksie beteken nuut kyk

In last week's Rapport in his column "The Chinese are right: Merit is all that matters", R.W. Johnson makes several statements about affirmative action that calls for redress and response. She says, He refers more to the vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town as "a nice guy", and the admissions policy at UCT that penalizes good white and black students in favor of less good black students. (Read the full article.)

On 27 June, Business Day published a letters by D Wolpert, Pierre de Vos and Lethola Mokakala in response to Ken Owen.

D Wolpert of Rivonia

Business Day headline: Policies shameful

I was a big fan of Ken Owen when he was a younger man. His editorial style was eloquent, outspoken, principled and bold. Over the past few years I have found many of his letters to be impatient, and perhaps a little grumpy. However, as regards his views on the UCT admissions policy debate, I believe that he is the Owen of old, and has again, outspokenly and honestly, hit the proverbial nail on the head. (Read the full article.)

Pierre de Vos - Claude Leon Foundation chair in constitutional governance, department

Business Day headline: Owen undermining constitution

I am surprised that an old liberal like Ken Owen (Hitler's policy at UCT, Letters, June 24) is undermining our constitution and is indirectly advocating that universities flout the law and the constitution. I always thought liberals supported upholding the constitution and the rule of law. (Read the full article.)

Lethola Mokakala of Newcastle

Business Day headline: Out of touch

I have been following the University of Cape Town (UCT) admissions policy debate with great interest. Your melanin-deficient readers seem to assume a pale applicant from St John's college who scored 95% is automatically "better" than a dark applicant from Thuto Lore High school in Sharpeville who got 74%. As a UCT graduate (in chemical engineering) and having studied alongside privileged white students from prestigious schools, I can categorically state that this is not the case. (Read the full article.)

On 28 June, Business Day published a letter by JD Stern of Craighal in response to the letter by Pierre de Vos.

Business Day headline: Will field ever be level?

Pierre de Vos (Owen undermining constitution, Letters, June 27) presents a coherent argument, backed by section 9 of the constitution, in favour of protecting and promoting the achievement of equality by implementing corrective measures that target groups disadvantaged by past discrimination . It is a sentiment that must surely be endorsed by all, but running alongside it must be the understanding that it cannot be open-ended. (Read the full article.)

On 29 June, Business Day published a letter by Ken Owen in response to the letter by Pierre de Vos.

Business Day headline: Clutching at straws

Pierre de Vos, in his anxiety to exonerate his university (Owen undermining constitution, Letters, June 27), extrapolates in lawyer-ish fashion to ascribe to me views which I do not hold, and then sets about demolishing his own straw man. For one thing, liberals espouse the rights of individuals; others, as George Orwell demonstrated in Animal Farm, deal in "groups". I follow the liberal creed that all men, individually, are created equal, and are individually endowed with unalienable rights. Prof de Vos seems to be on the side of Orwell's pigs. (Read the full article.)

On 30 June, Business Day published a letter by Sean Muller of Cape Town responding to the letter by Frans Cronje.

Business Day headline: Blunt, but necessary

Frans Cronje (Pathetic policy, Letters, June 23) either does not understand that policies are unavoidably blunt instruments, or is engaging in rhetorical sleight of hand. He focuses on the hypothetical empowerment billionaire's child who will get into the University of Cape Town at the cost of a poorer white student with better grades. It is true: this is a possibility. That is the nature of blunt instruments, they sometimes cut crudely. (Read the full article.)

On 30 June, Business Day also published a letter by Louis Volschenk of Cape Town.

Business Day headline: Truth trumps policy

Pierre de Vos seems to think it a crime to have an opinion other than that expressed by a Constitutional Court judge (Owen undermining constitution, Letters, June 27). Does he realise that the original US constitution excluded the majority of citizens from voting? There have been 27 amendments to the US constitution over the past 220 years. (Read the full article.)

On 5 July, in the Mail & Guardian's Thought Leader, former UCT SRC president, Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh wrote:

Mail & Guardian headline: Race against denial

There is a growing inclination in South African public discourse towards the idea that race no longer exists. He adds, But when we examine its effects, the denialist view - the view that race is no longer important in determining disadvantage in South Africa - is far more dangerous in the long term. Pretending that race does not exist makes South Africa's already difficult healing process much harder than it needs to be. This is because it takes race "underground" and makes it an unspeakable. If anything, this is worse than the act of open categorisation. (Read the full article.)

On 1 July, Pierre de Vos wrote:

Business Day headline: Base redress on race

Correspondents like Ken Owen (Clutching at straws, Letters, June 29) and Louis Volschenk (Truth trumps policy, Letters, June 30), speaking from a position of white privilege, are seemingly in denial about the effects of past and ongoing racism and racial discrimination in our country. (Read the full article.)

On 1 July, M Deacon of Melrose also wrote in Business Day:

Business Day headline: Vos is disingenuous

I accept that after a history of keeping people down, measures are needed to right the ship. What I cannot accept is the way this has been allowed to degenerate into straight racism. I found Pierre de Vos's reply, promoting the concept of race-based university entrance, to be disingenuous, more an attempt to mock than to enter serious debate (Owen undermining constitution, Letters, June 27). (Read the full article.)

On 4 July, Henry Coppens of Fourways wrote:

Business Day headline: A return to racism

I cannot believe what we are hearing from Pierre de Vos (Base redress on race, Letters, July 1). What he is advocating is simply taking us back to the dark days of blatant, institutionalised racism. No amount of spin from him will change this reality. (Read the full article.)

On 5 July, Prof Crain Soudien, deputy vice-chancellor at UCT wrote:

Business Day headline: UCT admissions issue is complex

Recent comments expressed by Business Day readers on the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) admissions policy demonstrate the complexity of this matter. The points they touch upon are the basis for UCT's continuing investigation into what might constitute a fair admissions policy. I would like to respond to some of the issues that have been raised. (Read the full article.)

On 6 July Eddie Haynes-Smart of Cape Town wrote in response to Prof Soudien's letter:

Business Day headline: Moscow on the hill

So the truth will out (UCT admissions issue is complex, Letters, July 5). It's not about finding raw talent (IQ testing would sort that). It's not about helping those from dysfunctional schools (grading schools would cater for that). It's not about compensating for financial hardship (means testing would help there). In essence, Prof Crain Soudien is telling us it's actually all about churning out more black faces. The corollary being, of course, that "the end justifies the means". (Read the full article.)

On 6 July, News24 online published an article by Mark Schulz:

News24 headline: We live in an unfair world

Over the past half century a new crusade in the pursuit of 'fairness' has steadily been growing in power in South Africa and around the world. Usually this involves attacks on the people perceived to be 'privileged' in society, regardless of the source of that privilege in the guise of uplifting the 'disadvantaged'. It would be hard to argue that a child gifted in the art of playing music should be excluded from an elite music academy in order for a tone deaf one to study there. However ludicrous this may seem; it is exactly what universities are doing around the world, and particularly in South Africa. Students of questionable intellectual capability and no financial capacity are being awarded places in these formerly fine institutions based on these ideas of 'fairness'. UCT has just announced different entrance requirements for different races. How often do we see blatantly unfair practices in the pursuit of 'fairness', 'diversity' and equality? (Read the full article.)

On 7 July, Business Day published responses to Prof Crain Soudien's letter from Sam Davies from Bedfordview and Crispin Hemson of Glenwood.

Sam Davies wrote:

Business Day headline: No merit, no money

I can say only this to Prof Crain Soudien (UCT admissions issue is complex, Letters, July 5): Those of us who fought as University of Cape Town (UCT) students for nonracialism and a society based on individual merit will not leave one cent to UCT in our endowments while UCT practises reverse racism as an admission policy. (Read the full article.)

Crispin Hemson wrote:

Business Day headline: Black and white

Part of the contention over the University of Cape Town's admission policy is about whether the continued use of racial categories is racist (UCT admissions issue is complex, Letters, July 5). (He continues) I use racial categories here not because I believe that they are viable ways of describing humans, but because removing racial language from the description of what happened would distort the reality of what is happening. Our racial histories have a real and present heritage. The University of Cape Town is being responsible in recognising that. (Read the full article.)

On 8 July, Professor Crain Soudien wrote in response to Eddie Haynes-Smart:

Business Day headline: Refining our policy

Contrary to Eddie Haynes- Smart's perception (Moscow on the hill, Letters, July 6), the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) admission policy is indeed about finding raw talent, helping those from disadvantaged schools and compensating for financial hardship, as well as increasing diversity in higher education. (Read the full article.)

On 8 July, Ken Owen also wrote in response to Professor Crain Soudien's letter:

Business Day headline: All in the same pot

The assurance by Prof Crain Soudien that black and coloured applicants for entry to the university must meet the same requirements (UCT admissions issue is complex, Letters, July 5) is a step forward. But his assurance is puzzling (Read the full article.)

On 20 July, Professor Joan Hambidge of UCT wrote:

Business Day headline: Rethink of outdated standards occurring at UCT

COMMENTS in the media against affirmative action have put the spotlight on the University of Cape Town (UCT) and its vice-chancellor, Max Price. For instance, journalist and historian RW Johnson recently wrote a column in Rapport predicting that standards at UCT - and its reputation - would fall because of the university's admissions policy, which lowers admission standards slightly for black and coloured applicants. What is affirmative action and why do people write such horrible things about it? Affirmative action does not necessarily mean a reduction in standards. (Read the full article.)

On 22 July Business Day published articles by Paul Trewhela and RW Johnson to Joan Hambidge's letter:

Paul Trewhela wrote:

Business Day headline: Outdated ideology

Joan Hambidge's diatribe against the norms of educational excellence (Rethink of outdated standards occurring at UCT, July 20) is a torrent of ideological hoo-ha. This kind of thinking serves to depress standards in education and skills beneath the levels essential for SA to raise itself to international norms. (Read the full article.)

RW Johnson

Business Day headline: Confusing the issue

I was somewhat surprised by the criticisms of me by Prof Joan Hambidge (Rethink of outdated standards occurring at UCT, July 20). She seemed to think it was "horrible" of me to suggest that introducing racial discrimination and lowering admissions standards at the University of Cape Town (UCT) would lower standards. I am afraid this follows just as ineluctably as 2+2 comes out at 4. Of course, it is horrible that it doesn't come out 5,6 or even 49, but there we are. One notes that last year UCT fell from 146th place in the QS university rankings to 161st. (Read the full article.)

On 25 July, Graeme Bloch wrote in response to Paul Trewhela and RW Johnson:

Business Day headline: Standards are high

I see Paul Trewhela and RW Johnson are desperate to prove that standards have dropped at the University of Cape Town (Outdated ideology, and Confusing the issue, Letters, July 22), though neither of them do - nor are able to - provide any evidence. I serve on the UCT Council, attained an MA at UCT in 1980 and recently another (at Wits). Actually, instead of an almost all-white campus like in my day, now a diversity of very smart students - women, disabled, black, coloured and white - are able to participate in the fruits of knowledge and contribute to intellectual achievement. (Read the full article.)

On 27 and 28 July, Business Day published letters from D Wolpert and Paul Trewhela in response to the letter by Graeme Bloch.

D Wolpert wrote:

Business Day headline: Older but wiser

In his letter (Standards are high, July 25), Graeme Bloch suggests that comments from letter writers Messrs Trewhela and Johnson, who wrote about the University of Cape Town's admission policies and the alleged lowering of standards, are "bitternek red herrings from older men who seem to have lost touch, if not their ideological bearings". I find Mr Bloch's arrogant and insulting comments totally misplaced. (Read the full article.)

Paul Trewhela wrote

Business Day headline: Try again, Bloch

Graeme Bloch (Standards are high, Letters, July 26) makes no attempt to address the point made by RW Johnson (Confusing the issue, Letters, July 22), that "last year UCT fell from 146th place in the QS university rankings to 161st." He simply lets loose another ideological cloud of dust at Mr Johnson and myself. As the author of The Toxic Mix: What's Wrong With SA's Schools and How To Fix It (Tafelberg, 2009) and in his other writings, Mr Bloch deflects attention from his own role and that of his comrades in the political elite: the authors of this toxicity in the first place. (Read the full article.)

On 28 July, Mayihlome Tshwete from Tshwane wrote in response to Mr D Wolpert

Business Day headline: Comfort undisturbed

First, Graeme Bloch's letter (Standards are high, July 25) is far from arrogant; it is written by a person who empirically understands the dynamics of SA's education system. Mr Bloch also understands our unfortunate path (he doesn't simply acknowledge it, which I can't say for Mr Wolpert. We must reach beyond our conveniently plain understanding of racism and seek to all play a more active role in righting the wrongs of the past, whether it be by means of admission policy or black economic empowerment. (Read the full article.)

On 29 July, Graeme Block wrote in response to Mr D Wolpert

Business Day headline: The issue is race

I am cautious about replying to replies, as I believe if you have participated in debate, you must allow this debate to run. Nonetheless, this debate is about how to admit young, smart kids into tertiary institutions when schooling is a poor differentiator. It is also about how not to entrench colour, despite the current realities of a racially structured history. Proxies like race, which the University of Cape Town uses, surely have consequences. Let us discuss this. (Read the full article.)

On 29 July, Business Day also published a letter from UCT's Gerda Kruger in response to RW Johnson and Paul Trewhela

Business Day headline: Standards not lowered

With reference to RW Johnson (Outdated ideology, Letters, July 22) and Paul Trewhela (Confusing the issue, Letters, July 22). In both letters, the two readers argue - in different ways - that standards at the University of Cape Town (UCT) have dropped because of our admissions policy and then offer the proof that UCT had "fallen" 15 places from 146th place in the QS university rankings last year to 161st. They don't mention that in the same year the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings placed UCT at number 107, 39 places above our 146th spot in 2009 when the THE and QS rankings were still combined. (Read the full article.)

On 1 August, D Wolpert wrote:

Business Day headline: Set a higher standard

Business Day's letters page is always the first page I turn to when I open the newspaper. The general standard of letters published is superior to anything else available locally, and the large majority of your writers submit intellectually stimulating, thoughtful, interesting letters. However, I must confess that sometimes I am completely astonished by some of the personal attacks launched by obviously intelligent correspondents.(Read the full article.)

On 1 August, C Lemkin of Sandton wrote:

Business Day headline: Debate needed

Based upon letters published in Business Day it seems that claims of the University of Cape Town's (UCT's) admission criteria and perceived resultant lowering of standards, evokes real anger in some people. This anger is then directed at critics of UCT, who are accused of harbouring all sorts of nasty feelings like racist tendencies and a longing for the good old days, and we are all supposedly ageing creatures criticising from the safety of our comfort zones. (Read the full article.)

On 3 August the Cape Times published an article by education writer Michelle Jones:

Cape Times headline: Bar still raised for white pupils

TO STAND a �probable� chance of being accepted to study medicine at UCT next year, a white student will need to achieve a minimum average of 78 percent for both the national senior certificate and national benchmark tests. (She adds) Former white universities are continuing to enforce stricter admission policies for white pupils as they have done for some years in an attempt to redress their racial make-up by accepting more black students. Both UCT and Stellenbosch University have in recent years dramatically increased the number of students falling into the �black� � African, coloured and Indian � race category as they attempt to mirror the country�s racial make-up. (Read the full article.)

On 24 October Business Report published a letter by ML Barber:

Business Report headline: Shortage of doctors is only half the story

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi alleges that 'poor planning' in the apartheid era led to a shortage of medical practitioners. Motsoaledi is disingenuous to the extreme. His department is responsible for a rigid employment equity policy which has actively sought to prevent white and Indian doctors from filling vital vacant senior posts, particularly in the Western Cape. At UCT, the racially driven quota system has contributed to prospective white students as well as graduated medical students leaving the country. Parliamentary questions have revealed that white students will only gain admission if they obtain an average mark of 91% as opposed to black students who only have to obtain an average of 74% for admission. (Read the full article.)

On 31 October Business Report published a letter by UCT's Gerda Kruger in response to ML Barber:

Business Report headline: Dearth of doctors has no link to UCT policy

Last week ML Barber wrote that UCT's admissions policy was contributing to the shortage of qualified medical doctors in South Africa (Shortage of doctors is only half the story - 24 October). There is no evidence to support such a statement. In 2009 health sciences staff at the University of Free State reported in the journal South African Family Practice on their study of why doctors were emigrating. The three primary motivations were financial reasons, better job opportunities and the high crime rate. (Read the full article.)

On 7 November Business Report published letter by ML Barber and Brian Watson in response to Gerda Kruger's letter:

ML Barber wrote:

Business Report headline: UCT's racial quotas impede health care

One would have thought that with the crisis gripping our health-care system, any impediment to the garnering of entrants into the medical faculty of UCT would have no place in the new South Africa. Ms Kruger avers that the racially discriminatory admission policy of UCT plays no part in the emigration of doctors from South Africa. This statement should be bracketed with the assertion of Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi that apartheid is solely to blame for the current shortage of medical personnel. (Read the full article.)

Brian Watson wrote:

Business Report headline: Medical students key to better health in SA

In criticising ML Barber ('Shortage of doctors is only half of the story', October 24), Gerda Kruger ('Dearth of doctors has no link to UCT policy', October 31) does nothing less than confirm the very point made by Mr Barber. In my view, it is quite plain that doctors that have obviously already qualified as such and who are leaving South Africa will not refer to the admissions policy of UCT as a reason for leaving. As for the differentiated entry criteria, does Ms Kruger want us to believe that illnesses are graded and that coloured and black doctors only get to treat those illnesses that fall within the differentiated entry scores for admission to UCT? (Read the full article.)