UCT honours four trailblazers at Spring graduation

The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) spring graduation was special in various ways. One of these special moments included awarding honorary doctorates to four distinguished individuals.

The university awards honorary doctorates (honoris causa) across a multitude of fields in recognition of exceptional work that has made a meaningful contribution to society. In this graduation, the four recipients were from the fields of health sciences and humanities.  

A voice for the people’s history

Luli Callinicos is a renowned South African social historian, activist, and author whose work has focused on documenting the lives and struggles of ordinary people. She was awarded the Doctor of Literature degree. A University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) graduate (BA, 1964), she forwent postgraduate study to dedicate herself to social history, education, and the anti-apartheid movement. A founding member of the Wits History Workshop, she pioneered “history from below”, making history accessible to marginalised communities. She developed alternative curricula, co-founded the Workers’ Library and Museum, and authored influential works, including Oliver Tambo: Beyond the Engeli Mountains. Her contributions to scholarship, cultural preservation, and social justice remain widely respected and impactful in empowering marginalised communities through education. Her lifetime of achievements embodies the values that UCT strives to uphold.

Healing, teaching, and creating

Dr Mohammed Cassiem D’Arcy, a pioneering medical doctor, pathologist, educator, and cultural contributor, was honoured with a Doctor of Medicine degree (honoris causa). Among the few coloured UCT medical graduates of the 1960s, he trained in North America under leading experts, conducting influential research in electron microscopy and neuropathology. Denied academic posts on his return under apartheid, he dedicated 30 years to providing world-class medical care to disadvantaged Cape Town communities, later teaching pathology at the University of the Western Cape. Beyond medicine, he was a prolific writer, columnist, and visual artist, enriching South African arts and heritage. His lifelong service embodies resilience, excellence, and social impact.

Championing disability rights

Shuaib Chalklen, a distinguished UCT alumnus and disability rights activist, was honoured with the Doctor of Social Science degree (honoris causa). Beginning his career with Disabled People South Africa, he advanced economic empowerment for persons with disabilities. He later became the director of the Office on the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency, shaping national policy and contributing to the development of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Internationally, he served as United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Disability (2009–2014), championing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and founded the African Disability Forum. His leadership, advocacy, and lived experience have transformed disability inclusion locally, continentally, and globally.

Storyteller of justice and resilience

Dr Sindiwe Magona, who could not attend the graduation ceremony, was awarded the Doctor of Literature degree (honoris causa). She is an acclaimed author, activist, and advocate for social justice. Born in the Eastern Cape, she rose from humble beginnings to become a leading literary voice, with more than 100 works – spanning novels, memoirs, short stories, and plays. Her writing powerfully explores apartheid, gender inequality, HIV/AIDS, and cultural heritage, blending personal narrative with broader social critique. A former UN official, she has championed women’s and children’s rights while preserving South African traditions through her storytelling. Her resilience, global influence, and lifelong commitment to justice embody UCT’s Vision 2030 strategy and inspire future generations.