A whistleblower from the University of Cape Town alleges racial bias in grading, claiming white students are favored while Black students are unfairly penalized in the Faculty of Social Development.
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| UCT under fire over claims of racial grading bias in the Faculty of Social Development |
A whistleblower at the University of Cape Town (UCT) has come forward with serious allegations of racial discrimination in academic grading. Speaking to Sunday World, the source claimed that lecturers within the Faculty of Social Development have been awarding higher marks to white students while deliberately giving lower grades to their Black counterparts.
According to Sunday world the whistleblower, said this practice is not an isolated incident but part of a broader culture of inequality within the faculty. “Black students are constantly made to feel inferior, no matter how hard they work. The academic system here is rigged in favor of white excellence,” the individual alleged.
These claims have reignited public concerns about racial inequality within South African higher education institutions particularly at UCT, which has long battled accusations of slow transformation and institutional bias despite its global reputation.
While the university has not officially responded to the claims, the whistleblower's report has already sparked outrage among students and alumni. Calls are mounting for an independent investigation into the faculty's grading practices, transparency in assessments, and stronger accountability structures to prevent racial bias.
Some students and staff members are also demanding that UCT release disaggregated data on academic performance by race to determine whether systemic patterns support the allegations made.
The issue goes beyond academics. “When you disadvantage a student’s academic performance, you affect their career, confidence, and access to future opportunities,” said a concerned postgraduate student. “If these claims are true, they reflect not just bias but institutional sabotage.”
At the time of publication, Sunday World’s article remains the only known report detailing these specific claims. However, the gravity of the allegations has been enough to stir national conversation about fairness, race, and the lived experiences of Black students in South African universities.
More developments are expected as pressure builds for UCT to respond.
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