Provide expert advice to government | University of Cape Town

Providing expert advice to government is a vital expression of the University of Cape Town’s public mission and its commitment to engaged scholarship. Grounded in Vision 2030, UCT strives to create a fair and just society by applying its academic expertise to address the most pressing national and global challenges. Through evidence-based research and direct participation in policymaking processes, the university ensures that its intellectual resources contribute to effective governance, social justice, and sustainable development. These advisory engagements exemplify UCT’s values of excellence, integrity, and service to society, translating knowledge into impact and strengthening the university’s role as a trusted partner in shaping South Africa’s future.

In 2024, UCT contributed as follows:

1. Health — Ministerial advisory teams / technical committees (food safety; public health experts)

The South African Minister of Health announced the appointment of the ministerial committee on foodborne illness in December 2024. On 15 November 2024, in addressing the nation after fatalities that claimed the lives of school children in the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa, among others, indicated that the Minister of Health would establish a Ministerial Committee to provide expert advice, guidance, and recommendations to the minister and government to enable informed and evidence-based decision making. The team was appointed in the first week of December 2024. It is also envisaged that the work of the MAC will inform the government of any need for policy refinement, development and advice on the practicality and effectiveness of food safety interventions in the country to address the needs of communities. The following UCT academics were appointed to this committee:

Prof Leslie London, Head of Public Medicine in the School of Public Health and Family Medicine at the University of Cape Town.
Prof Cindy Stephen, Director of Poisons Information Centre at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital as well a Member Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Cape Town.
Dr Jody Rusch, A Chemical Pathologist and serves as a Senior Pathologist with the National Health Laboratory Services and the University of Cape Town.

Appointment to ministerial teams is a formal advisory role to the Department of Health; these teams are explicitly mandated to advise the Minister and inform policy and practice.

2. Economics / macro policy — Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC)

Prof Haroon Bhorat (UCT, Development Policy Research Unit) was appointed to the Presidential Economic Advisory Council II in November 2024.

PEAC is a strategic body tasked with guiding South Africa’s economic policies towards rapid, inclusive, and sustainable growth. The Council is a non-statutory and independent body chaired by the President and brings together prominent economists and technical experts drawn from academia, the private sector, labour, community, think tanks and other constituencies.

The council comprises esteemed local and international economists and experts who will volunteer their time to serve during the 7th Administration. Prof. Haroon Bhorat, UCT’s Development Policy Research Unit Director, has served on the PEAC since 2019; and has been reappointed to the 'PEAC II'.

"I am honoured to serve once again on the PEAC for this 2nd term of President Ramaphosa," he says. "As we enter a period of modest economic growth, but also a vibrant policy environment – I am hopeful that we as a Council can contribute in tangible ways to growing the economy and generating sustainable employment."

President Ramaphosa has set up the Council to ensure greater coherence and consistency in the implementation of economic policy and ensure that government and society in general is better equipped to respond to changing economic circumstances. Comprising local and international economic thought leaders, the Council advises the President and government more broadly, helping the development and implementation of economic policies that spur inclusive growth.

3. Labour / social policy — SALDRU evaluation of the Presidential Employment Stimulus (PES)

Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU) published analysis in 2024 evaluating stimulus/employment programmes (including PES / Basic Education employment components). The work assessed employment and income effects and was framed to inform public discussion on national employment interventions.

SALDRU’s evaluation of a presidential programme produces evidence directly relevant to government decisions on stimulus and labour policy.

4. Climate policy & resilience — Presidential Climate Commission (PCC) engagement and CSAG work

UCT researchers contributed to the Presidential Climate Commission’s work (the PCC’s State of Climate Action in South Africa report, July 2024), and UCT’s Climate System Analysis Group (CSAG) led peer-to-peer city learning labs and technical guidance designed to inform municipal and national adaptation planning (floods/drought resilience learning labs for eThekwini and Nelson Mandela Bay).

The PCC is a presidential statutory commission producing reports used by national and provincial policymakers; CSAG’s peer-learning and technical work provide operational guidance directly targeted at municipalities and national climate adaptation planning.

5. Infrastructure / transport — UCT research & direct engagement with municipal infrastructure actors

UCT Centre for Transport Studies / researchers published a climate-impact transport infrastructure risk assessment for the City of Cape Town (estimating ~R20 billion of transport infrastructure at high climate risk) and UCT hosted a Public Infrastructure Hackathon (Nov 2024) that included municipal engineers, MISA and other government stakeholders to develop solutions for infrastructure delivery problems.

The risk assessment provides planners and municipal decision-makers with quantified evidence to prioritise resilience investments; the hackathon created a direct forum for presenting solutions to government officials (an advisory / co-design mechanism).

6. Law, governance & judiciary — DGRU / Judges Matter submissions

UCT’s Democratic Governance & Rights Unit (DGRU) and allied units made formal submissions / advocacy interventions in 2024 (for example, a submission published ahead of a Judicial Service Commission session). Written submissions to judicial or parliamentary processes are formal inputs intended to influence selection, oversight and justice policy.

7. Refugee & migration policy — Refugee Rights Unit research feeding policy briefs

UCT’s Refugee Rights Unit carried out country reports and research used in policy briefs (for example, cited in the European Commission’s 2024 ASILE policy brief titled “Assessing the effectiveness of South Africa’s Zimbabwean Dispensation” by UCT’s Prof. Fatima Khan. Applied research and policy briefs are commonly used by national/regional policymakers to inform immigration/ refugee policy and administrative practice. The unit also provides training/advocacy for government officials and judicial actors.