What’s in a name?

Similarly, Kabelo Lehloenya, the former chief financial officer of the Gauteng Department of Health, fingered by the Special Investigating Unit for irregular PPE procurement, says she was merely following instructions. Following the death of her colleague, Babita Deokaran, who was gunned down in her driveway and who stood in the way of what she and others were doing, Lehloenya claims to be afraid for her own life.

On whose orders was she acting illegally? She is pointing her crooked finger at no less than Gauteng Premier David Makhura. This as law enforcement has said an unnamed senior ANC figure is a person of interest in the Deokaran case. Whoever it turns out to be, you can bet they come with a serious title.

Back to my excited caller Mamokgethi. She too held a high position, she told me, but hated being referred to by her job title. She posited an interesting reason: when you fall out of favour, the very people who were once obsequious towards you soon call you by your first name, almost as if it were an insult. It becomes the ultimate declaration of their newfound contempt. Before any fall from grace or accusations, please call her Mamokgethi.

It took me a moment to realise that I was speaking to the vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town.

But this week, Professor Mamokegthi Phakeng flew into the storm when she hosted a webinar that sought to answer what science apparently says about LGBTQA+. As could be expected, there were any number of problematic aspects of such a discussion – apart from being reductive, Phakeng spoke to a urologist who understands the clinical issues but has little knowledge of the psychosocial perspective. Her expert guest repeatedly confused biological sex and gender and justified the genital mutilation of intersex babies because, for example, Home Affairs must be told something for its birth register.

How did the principal of Africa’s leading university walk into such an obvious black hole? Does UCT not boast an advanced Gender Studies Department?

Siv Greyson, a lecturer at the very institution, “a black transgender, and non-binary lesbian”, was silenced in the comments section when trying to warn Phakeng not to proceed with her ill-advised idea.

Their desperate tweets fell on deaf ears: “Prof Phakeng I am anxious and scared. Us, as trans UCT employees, alumni and students, not being able to join this conversation is making me so anxious I can’t stop shaking!”

Silence.

Greyson is clear – any first year student at UCT could have told Phakeng what was wrong with the discussion.

Perhaps the next time they should just ask Mamogkethi to stop it?

Bingwa is the host of 702 Breakfast and a Carte Blanche presenter.