Wamkelekile, Welkom
Dr Medeé Rall’s lifelong legacy of learning
10 November 2025 | Video Production Boikhutso Ntsoko and Nomfundo Xolo. Photo Boikhutso NtsokoFor 50 years, Dr Medeé Rall’s life has been intertwined with the University of Cape Town (UCT) – a journey that began at age 14 when she arrived as a ballet student at the UCT Ballet School. What followed was a career defined by an unwavering commitment to expanding access to knowledge beyond the boundaries of the university.
After early years in teaching, Rall found her calling in adult education, becoming part of the first intake of UCT’s Diploma in Adult Education. Her literacy work in KwaLanga and Rondebosch grounded her in community-based learning.
Her work later expanded into the Iziko South African Museum, where she developed educational programmes in partnership with UCT, using fossils, rock art, astronomy, geology and cultural collections to unlock curiosity and confidence in adult learners.
In 2003, she joined UCT’s Centre for Extra-Mural Studies (CEMS) full-time, where she transformed Summer School and public short courses into flagship programmes of lifelong learning. Under her leadership, thousands engaged with diverse fields, from paleontology to poetry, archaeology to astronomy. She curated excursions across the country, from Cederberg rock art sites to the telescopes of Sutherland, and facilitated international study tours, most recently with a group from Hong Kong in 2025.
As she retires, she hopes the culture of lifelong learning remains central to UCT’s identity, rooted in curiosity, creativity and openness.
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