From the CCS Web site home page on 10 August 2008

Will CCS be closed by University of KwaZulu-Natal authorities?

Note on the status of CCS within the University of KwaZulu-Natal

On 30 July, the staff of CCS and our host institution, the School of Development Studies (SDS), were summoned by Dean Donal McCracken, and told that as of 31 December 2008, CCS would be permanently closed, that Professor Patrick Bond (CCS director since October 2004) would resume his tenured chair within SDS, and that the other CCS staff - all on contract - would be terminated, with CCS's "good" projects moved to SDS.

CCS staff are unanimous that this decision should be reconsidered, and the following letter of appeal was sent within hours to Dean McCracken. As of 1 August, no reply was received, and with word now out about the proposed closure, we deem this necessary to publicise on the CCS website. Our objective is to retain the Centre as it now operates, and indeed to strengthen and make CCS more autonomous (as recommended in the official UKZN Review of our activities on 29 February 2008). We appreciate the solidarity of colleagues, communities, donors and supporters, and your comments - supportive and critical alike - will be published on this website. please send to pbond@mail.ngo.za

Testimonials in support of the CCS

Hands off the CCS! says COSATU
COSATU is dismayed to hear that the University of KwaZulu-Natal is considering closing its world-renowned Centre for Civil Society.

Professor Immanuel Wallerstein, Yale University:
The CCS is the jewel in your crown. Why would anyone want to close it down?

From: http://www.ukzn.ac.za/ccs/