59th TB Davie Memorial Lecture and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

The University of Cape Town (UCT) will host the 59th TB Davie Memorial Lecture to be delivered by Associate Professor Loretta J Ross on Wednesday, 6 August 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. UCT to host 59th TB Davie Memorial Lecture

UCT will host Associate Professor Loretta J Ross as the speaker for the 59th TB Davie Memorial Lecture. The event will take place on Wednesday, 6 August 2025. Organised by UCT’s Academic Freedom Committee (AFC), chaired by Professor Rudzani Muloiwa, the lecture continues a long-standing tradition of engaging critically with themes of academic and human freedom. The TB Davie Memorial Lecture was established by UCT students in memory of former Vice-Chancellor Thomas Benjamin Davie (1948–1955), a vocal and principled advocate for academic freedom.

This year’s lecture, titled “Calling In: Navigating Challenging Conversations and Cultivating Compassionate Connections”, will reflect on the importance of open, respectful engagement, particularly in an era shaped by cancel culture, division and public shaming. Associate Professor Ross, a leading human rights and social justice scholar, will introduce “calling in” as a practice that encourages dialogue, empathy and accountability. Her talk will explore how this approach can help academic institutions sustain spaces for rigorous debate while fostering inclusion and mutual respect.

The lecture will be delivered online and screened in person at the New Lecture Theatre, upper campus. It will offer practical insights on how to hold space for difficult conversations while remaining rooted in the values of ubuntu and academic freedom.

• Read the full VC Desk: 59th TB Davie Lecture by Associate Professor Ross.
• Register by Monday, 4 August 2025 to attend online or in-person screening.
• Watch the lecture on UCT's Facebook and X social media platforms.

2. UCT Language Indaba to be held in August

Staff and students are invited to the UCT Language Indaba on Tuesday, 26 August 2025 at Molly Blackburn, upper campus, from 10:00 to 14:00. The indaba will focus on “Sharing Best Practice on Language Policy Implementation in Higher Education”.

UCT’s Multilingual Language Policy and its accompanying implementation framework were approved in December 2024, and faculties and divisions are now drafting their implementation plans.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela and representatives from national language structures such as the Pan South African Language Board and the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources will address the indaba.

Faculties and divisions will showcase their multilingual work and present draft implementation plans. External contributors will also share insights on language policy implementations and support for multilingualism in higher education.

• Register to attend the indaba.

For more information, please contact Zukiswa Zono.

3. The UCT Epic Job Expo is almost here

In only seven days, the Careers Service will host the UCT Epic Job Expo, a premier recruitment event for students, on Wednesday, 6 August 2025 from 09:00 to 16:00 at the Sports Centre.

The expo offers students at all levels a chance to explore the world of work, connect with potential employers and use the all-day CV Lab. With more than 100 organisations attending, students will have access to over 3 000 opportunities, including bursaries, internships, graduate programmes and full-time positions.

Through this event, UCT Careers Service links students with diverse and exciting career prospects, turning career goals into tangible outcomes.

Students can look forward to face-to-face interactions with employers, expert help at the CV Lab and insightful talks from top industry professionals.

Students still exploring career paths are encouraged to consult the expo tips provided below. Preparing in advance and taking advantage of available tools will ensure you make the most of this high-impact event.

• Read tips on making the most of the expo.
• Browse the resources and application booklet.

4. UCT Flourish Summit to spotlight student voices

On Friday, 1 August 2025, UCT will host the inaugural UCT Flourish Summit, a celebration of student voice, wellbeing and renewal. The event is curated by the Centre for Wellbeing and Flourishing in the Department of Student Affairs. Over 20 students will share five-minute personal reflections on what it means to flourish in pressure, self-doubt and potential.

Themed around mental health, imposter syndrome, academic failure, identity and self-redemption, the summit reflects UCT’s commitment to prioritising wellbeing as part of its institutional culture. Rather than showcasing perfection, the summit offers space for honesty and presence, affirming that growth is rarely linear or quiet.

The Flourish Summit is distinct from the upcoming Wellbeing and Flourishing Conference for staff, which will be held on 9 September 2025 at the UCT Graduate School of Business. While the conference encourages systemic reflection among staff, the student-focused summit places student experiences at the centre – direct, unfiltered and deeply personal.

The summit will be held at the New Lecture Theatre, upper campus. Arrival is from 17:30, and the programme starts at 18:30.

• Read the full Campus Announcement: UCT Flourish Summit to spotlight student voices.
• RSVP to attend the summit.

5. Update on closure of P7 and P8 parking areas

The UCT community is advised that the P7 and P8 parking areas will remain closed until further notice to ensure commuter safety.

During initial assessments, structural/geotechnical engineers identified a shallow slip failure of the slope. The next phase will involve a detailed geotechnical investigation of the area, including an assessment of the retaining wall, to determine the appropriate rehabilitation measures required to ensure the safety of the parking area.

The UCT community is urged to comply with the barriers and emergency tape placed in the high-risk areas of P7 and P8, and not to park in cordoned-off spaces. 

Further progress will be communicated as new information becomes available.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements