Rosina Mamokgethi Phakeng GCOB OIG (née Mmutlana, born 1 November 1966)[4] is a South African[5] professor of mathematics education who in 2018 became a vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT).

[citation needed] Shortly after being appointed to the position as vice-chancellor of UCT, allegations questioning Phakeng's academic credentials emerged which she characterised as being part of a smear campaign against her.

[31][32][33] In 2018 Phakeng controversially congratulated a UCT student activist, Masixole Mlandu, who notably ended his undergraduate paper with the racially divisive slogan "One Settler, One Bullet.

[46] An independent panel, chaired by retired judge Lex Mpati, featuring fellow retired judge Azhar Cachalia, public sector governance expert Trish Hanekom and Wits transformation head Bernadette Johnson[47] investigated governance issues at the University of Cape Town (UCT), triggered by undisclosed events leading to Associate Professor Lis Lange's departure and a subsequent Non-Disclosure Agreement.

The probe was initiated amid the extension of Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng's term, highlighting concerns over executive committee stability and unexplained senior resignations.

[48] The Council revised the investigation's scope following VC Phakeng's agreed exit, broadening the inquiry to address broader governance failures and their impact on executive resignations from January 2018 to December 2022, with a view towards recommending future preventive strategies.

[48] The Panel implicated former VC Phakeng in several breaches of law and policy, including unlawful contract terminations, defamatory behaviour, conflicts of interest, and unprofessional conduct.