Commemorating Youth Month

Dear students

June is an important month in the history of South Africa. This is the month in which young people took a stand against the apartheid system.

Almost five decades later, the courage shown by the Class of 1976 continues to inspire the current generation.

The youth of today is facing its own challenges. To confront these challenges, the impressive sense of self-belief, conviction and bravery shown by the struggle generation of 1976 is still relevant today. As such, I want to make a call to today’s youth to pick up the baton and continue where the Class of 1976 left off.

I want to challenge all young people at the University of Cape Town (UCT) to take a leaf out of their book and set out to make a difference. As future leaders of our country, it’s never too early to use your access, your talents and your beliefs to inspire positive change among those around you. If we learn one thing from the generation of 1976, it is that change starts with you.

As Africa’s top-ranked university, UCT is proud to be the academic home of thousands of brilliant young people.

In particular, we have an exciting group of first-year students who joined us this year, who are currently going through the experience of sitting for their very first university exams.

I hope your journey with UCT has been a pleasant and fulfilling one so far, and I trust that you have embraced the opportunities that have come your way.

I want to encourage all of you to continue to engage with campus life, share your unique perspectives, and contribute to shaping the world you want to live in. As an important member of this community, your well-being and growth are intertwined with those around you.

At UCT, excellence is our culture. We strive for high standards, and we achieve this through collaboration and an openness to new ideas.

I wish your journey with UCT will be filled with joy, happiness, personal and academic growth. Our dedicated staff are always available to assist you become the best versions of yourselves, so don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for support should you feel like you are not coping.

At the end of the day, we want to produce future leaders who will take our country and continent to new heights – leaders who will emulate the Class of 1976.

Happy Youth Month.

Sincerely

Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe
Chancellor

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements