University of Cape Town News

For information on South Africa's response to COVID-19 please visit the COVID-19 Corona Virus South African Resource Portal.

Youth Month at UCT

On 16 June 1976 more than a hundred children died at the hands of police in Soweto and approximately 92 in Cape Town while protesting against apartheid policies that led to the introduction of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. Commemorated as Youth Day in South Africa – a public holiday – the day went down in history as the ‘Soweto Uprising’ and honours the country’s young people who challenged the unjust education system. To celebrate Youth Month, the UCT News team have focused on young people’s creativity and achievements in a selection of news stories and pictures.

News Student develops multilingual anti-mugging guidelines

In an effort to keep Capetonians safe, a UCT first-year social work student has developed a mugging prevention guide tailored to the Mother City’s residents.

23 Jun 2021 - 5 min read

News Youth Month: Young Africans are key to continental free trade agreement

Africa’s youth are key to the success of the agreement of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the world’s largest free trade area in terms of participating countries.

21 Jun 2021 - 8 min read

News The intersection between activism and academic excellence

On 16 June, Professor Elelwani Ramugondo facilitated a Youth Day webinar investigating the role that activism plays in helping students achieve academic success.

18 Jun 2021 - 6 min read

News Youth Month: Find your passion, says 24-year-old lecturer

Clinical anatomist Jeshika Luckrajh is one of UCT’s youngest lecturers. She spoke about her trajectory, a new city and the dynamics of youth and authority.

15 Jun 2021 - 9 min read

Photo Essay Summiting Lion’s Head – symbolic of overcoming life’s struggles

On Saturday, 12 June, UCT VC Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng and Mastercard Foundation Program Scholars made their way up Lion’s Head.

15 Jun 2021

News Student’s start-up prioritises sneakers, soap and art

Anele Siyotula, a UCT honours student and the founder of 1Stop Tekkie Wash, says constantly striving to improve your business will contribute to its success.

15 Jun 2021 - 6 min read

News Youth Day: ‘I remember police chasing learners’

Retired UCT academic Emeritus Professor Gavin Younge recalls how Cape Town youth played a pivotal role in the student protests on 16 June 1976.

14 Jun 2021 - 5 min read

NEWS

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Newsbyte Portrait by George Pemba joins UCT’s art collection

UCT’s Works of Art Collection committee has added George Pemba’s Portrait of the Barman from Fourways (1976) to its African Modern Art Collection.

23 Jun 2021 - 2 min read

News Reflecting on the devastating UCT fire

UCT’s Emeritus Professor William Bond said that wildfires, like the one that occurred on campus earlier this year, are likely to increase with global warming.

23 Jun 2021 - 7 min read

News Multinationals don’t approach investing in Africa the same way

Policymakers need to recognise that there isn’t uniformity in the approaches that multinationals take to corporate social responsibility and empowerment policies

22 Jun 2021 - 5 min read Republished

News Gauteng’s COVID-19 crisis is likely to worsen rapidly, unless…

UCT Emeritus Professor Jonny Myers and the University of the Witwatersrand’s Professor Shabir A Madhi delve into the COVID-19 crisis in Gauteng.

22 Jun 2021 - 6 min read Republished

News Children’s Institute releases resource pack for VAC researchers

UCT’s Children’s Institute has co-created a resource pack for research practitioners working in the area of violence against children.

18 Jun 2021 - 3 min read

Students’ innovative business ideas enter regional competition Eight budding UCT student entrepreneurs will proceed to the regional round of the Entrepreneurship Intervarsity competition later this year. 17 Jun 2021

South Africa and Nigeria must join forces for Africa’s future Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng addressed a delegation of Nigerian foreign ministry officials involved in an immersive programme at the UCT GSB about the future of Africa. 17 Jun 2021

VC hosts dinner in honour of Ikey Tigers Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng hosted a dinner for the FNB Ikey Tigers, who recently finished second in the 2021 FNB Varsity Cup. 17 Jun 2021

Join UCT’s chancellor for Youth Day webinar In an effort to support all students within the university space, the Residence Tutors Council has pioneered a multilingual tutoring system. 15 Jun 2021

South Africa’s vaccine rollout can succeed Professors Nicoli Nattrass and Jeremy Seekings believe South Africa’s vaccine rollout can succeed – but it will require leadership and tough negotiations with drug companies. 15 Jun 2021 Republished

Stationery giant PNA donates to Jagger Reading Room UCT’s Jagger Reading Room has received a R50 000 donation from PNA. The funds will go towards the library’s restoration project. 14 Jun 2021

Claiming Africa’s place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution UCT Chancellor Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe delivered the keynote address at Harvard’s inaugural “Partnerships in STEM Innovation and Future Africa” symposium. 11 Jun 2021

Genetic determinants of rheumatic heart disease risk in black Africans identified A pan-African study led by UCT researchers has identified the genetic determinants of rheumatic heart disease risk in black Africans. 11 Jun 2021

Missing targets to end HIV in children, a global failure Governments must review their national strategies and commit resources to three key paediatric HIV issues, writes UCT’s Professor Linda-Gail Bekker and UKZN’s Professor Kaymarlin Govender. 11 Jun 2021 Republished

FEATURES

Feature Updates on Campus Fire

UCT is deeply grateful to everyone who has come forward to offer assistance to our students displaced by #UCTFire.

18 Apr 2021

Feature Coronavirus Disease 2019

UCT is taking the COVID-19 pandemic seriously, and this page will feature the latest news and updates for the UCT community.

05 Feb 2020

Listen to the news

The stories in this selection include an audio recording for your listening convenience.

World Environment Day: oceanographer’s inland-to-sea journey

Oceanography graduand Liisa Shangeta first saw the sea at 14 – and was hooked. She spoke with UCT News ahead of World Environment Day on 5 June.

04 Jun 2021 - 10 min read

Groote Schuur Hospital performs South Africa’s first bowel enteroscopy

A team of academics at UCT and Groote Schuur Hospital have performed South Africa’s first bowel enteroscopy using the novel PowerSpiral device.

03 Jun 2021 - 6 min read

Orchid sexually exploits male beetles – a world-first from Africa

UCT research associate Dr Callan Cohen discovers one of the most remarkable cases of deception in nature: a Cape orchid that sexually exploits male beetles.

27 May 2021 - 8 min read

Africa Day symposium: Harness Africa’s youth dividend

Africa’s youth carry the hope of a continent emerging from colonialism and poverty, speakers said at the Africa Day Public Symposium, which was co-hosted by UCT.

27 May 2021 - 10 min read