Mr Arendse is a senior practising advocate and a member of the Cape and Johannesburg Bars. The senior counsel status was conferred upon him in 1998. He was a member of the previous UCT Council, serving on its executive committee and as chair of the then Naming of Buildings Committee.

Council elected Mr Arendse to the role of chair during the meeting of 17 June 2023. Council is confident that given Mr Arendse’s track record and extensive experience in governance, legal matters and leadership roles in national sports structures in South Africa as well as in the law profession as the first black chair of the General Council of the Bar of South Africa, he will represent Council and UCT very well in his role as chair.