Dear Concerned Citizens for Academic Freedom at UCT

The landmark judicial review Professor Adam Mendelsohn v University of Cape Town will be heard this Thursday and Friday, 23–24 October 2025, before a full bench of the Western Cape High Court.

The case challenges the lawfulness and rationality of UCT Council’s June 2024 resolutions on the Israel–Hamas conflict, the definitions of antisemitism, and restrictions on academic collaboration with Israeli institutions. It raises fundamental questions about academic freedom, institutional governance, stakeholder consultation, and the limits of university power.

Key details:

📍 Where: Western Cape High Court, Cape Town

⚖️ When: Thursday & Friday, 23–24 October

🏛️ What: Judicial review of UCT Council’s 2024 Gaza-related resolutions

👨‍⚖️ Panel: Full bench of three judges

What you can do:

If you are in Cape Town, we strongly encourage you to attend in person and show support for academic freedom and principled governance.

Follow the case online: visit uctwatch.com for a chronology of events, core legal issues explained, and court documents.

This case will have significant implications for academic freedom, free expression, and the international collaboration of South African universities.