Inaugural lecture by Professor Pande and other updates

Dear colleagues

Professor Amrita Pande will present her lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Wednesday, 15 October 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Amrita Pande (Faculty of Humanities)

Professor Pande will deliver her lecture, “White Eggs, Black Wombs: Staging the Baby Business”, on Wednesday, 15 October 2025 at 18:00 SAST at Auditorium LT1, Neville Alexander Building on lower campus.

This lecture will examine how assisted reproductive technologies have turned reproduction into a global marketplace. Through a mix of lecture and performance, Professor Pande will explore egg donation and surrogacy as forms of intimate labour, connecting them to global migration, political economy and racial capitalism. She will reflect on the experiences of South African egg providers and Indian and Ghanaian surrogates, and what these technologies mean for the futures we imagine or fear.

A professor of Sociology and UCT Fellow, Professor Pande’s research focuses on transnational reproduction, repro-genetic justice and multimodal ethnography. Her acclaimed book, Wombs in Labor: Transnational Surrogacy in India, has been adapted into a multimedia performance staged internationally. Her work appears in leading journals, edited volumes and major media outlets, including the BBC, TRT World, Danish National Television, SABC and SAfm.

Over the past two decades, Professor Pande has conducted a “mobile ethnography” across fertility clinics in India, Cambodia, Ghana and South Africa. She is completing her next book with MIT Press and continues to merge scholarship with creative expression. She has held visiting positions at Boston University, Brandeis University and the Institut Convergence Migrations in Paris. In 2022, she founded the South African chapter of Women Walk at Midnight, which reclaims public spaces for women and brings feminist joy to city nights.

• Read the full VC Desk: UCT inaugural lectures for October 2025.
• Register to attend the lecture.

Professors Suren Pillay from the Faculty of Humanities and Kamala Pillay from the Faculty of Health Sciences will also deliver their inaugural lectures on 21 and 30 October respectively.

2. Vusi Mahlasela – South Africa’s legendary voice at UCT

For one night only, legendary South African artist Vusi Mahlasela – ‘The Voice’ – brings his powerful blend of music and activism to UCT in a celebration of heritage and hope. This special performance features Mahlasela on acoustic guitar and vocals, joined by Jerry Tsholofelo Papo on guitar and Professor Dizu Plaatjies, UCT’s own living archive of indigenous African music, on percussion.

Mahlasela’s music speaks to themes of freedom, forgiveness and reconciliation. A national treasure, he was chosen to perform at Nelson Mandela’s 1994 inauguration and continues to inspire new generations through his enduring voice and message.

The concert will be held on Thursday, 16 October 2025 from 19:00 at the Baxter Concert Hall. It is sponsored by the Cameron Schrier Foundation.

All proceeds from ticket sales go to the ‘UCT Unlocking Futures Bursary Fund’ in support of UCT students.

• Buy tickets.

3. Deadline extension: Share your input on UCT’s Strategy 2030

The deadline to submit feedback on Strategy 2030 has been extended to 17 October 2025, giving all UCT staff, students and university stakeholders more time to have their say in shaping the university’s future.

In marking his first anniversary as Vice-Chancellor on 1 August 2025, Professor Mosa Moshabela officially launched Strategy 2030 – a significant step forward in realising UCT’s Vision 2030.

The university community is invited to review the draft strategy and contribute to co-creating a UCT that is the best home for staff and students – a place to explore talents, push the boundaries of excellence and contribute to the success of others and the advancement of society.

Your voice matters. Be part of shaping the future of UCT by sharing your thoughts and ideas on Strategy 2030.

• Read the full VC Desk: One year in office: Expressing gratitude and unveiling Strategy 2030.
• Visit the UCT Strategy 2030 page.

4. Nominations open for VC’s Excellence Awards 2025

The 2025 UCT Staff Awards, to be held in November, will celebrate individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond in their service to the university.

Nominations are open for all categories, including the Global Citizenship Award and the Service Excellence Award, which particularly invite participation from professional, administrative support and services (PASS) staff.

Staff engaged in transformation work are also invited to apply for or nominate colleagues for the Transformation Award.

Nominees may be individuals or teams whose work reflects UCT’s spirit of excellence, inclusion and global engagement.

• Read the full VC Desk: Nominations open for VC’s Excellence Awards 2025.

The deadline for submission is Friday, 24 October 2025.

• Read more on the guidelines and criteria for the awards.
• Download the nomination form.
• Submit a nomination.

5. Evening of creativity at UCT photography showcase

The UCT community is invited to the upcoming UCT Photography Showcase, an evening of creativity and connection.

This event is hosted by the Environmental Wellness Sub-Council and the Information Technology Sub-Council, in collaboration with the Centre for Wellbeing and Flourishing, and the global non-governmental organisation Seeing Happy. It is presented with the strategic support of Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness Professor Elelwani Ramugondo.

The showcase is part of the This Is Me campaign – A Portrait of Hope, Legacy and Belonging, launched during the UCT Flourish Summit in August. This initiative invited students, staff and alumni to capture what flourishing means to them through photography.

More than 230 photographs have been submitted, each paired with a personal story. Some capture the courage of “doing it scared, but doing it anyway”. Others reflect deep roots of family, culture and identity. Together, they form a living archive of flourishing at UCT.

The event will be held on Friday, 24 October 2025 from 19:00–21:00. The venue will be disclosed upon RSVP.

The evening will begin with an exhibition of all the photographs and stories submitted. In the second half, selected student photographers will share the origins of their portraits in short reflections, spotlighting how flourishing is experienced and expressed in daily life.

This is an important exhibition, celebrating interpersonal flourishing where creativity, connection and belonging intersect. It also reflects Seeing Happy’s global mission of flourishing through photography, and is now uniquely shaped by the UCT community.

• Upload your “This Is Me” photo and story.
• RSVP.

6. Opera UCT presents Die Fledermaus

Opera UCT invites the university community and the public to a performance of Johann Strauss II’s operetta Die Fledermaus from 23 to 26 October 2025 at the Pam Golding Theatre. Filled with mistaken identities, masked revenge and sparkling humour, this timeless work will be presented in a fresh and stylish new production.

The production is directed by Christine Crouse, with musical direction by Professor Jeremy Silver. Costumes by renowned fashion designer Gavin Rajah bring contemporary elegance and flair to the stage, complemented by set design from Allegra Bernacchione.

This features the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Professor Silver.

• Buy tickets.

7. Enhanced safety and security on campus

Following discussions between Campus Protection Services (CPS) and all faculties, new safety and security measures will be implemented across campuses from 13 October 2025, to enhance the protection of the UCT community.

The new measures are outlined below.

Madiba Circle booms: 

As of 13 October, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) at north and south booms on Madiba Circle on upper campus will be enhanced as follows:

• Staff and students will be required to use a valid staff/student card to swipe in at the booms. Access will be denied without a valid staff/student card.
• Staff and students are required to display their valid parking disc (which is automatically linked to staff/student cards) on the windscreen of their vehicles to gain access.
• The booms will be opened by CPS from Monday to Friday between 07:00 and 09:00, to allow for peak traffic to flow. During this time, a valid parking disc will be required for entry.
• CPS officers will be stationed at the booms 24/7 to manage deliveries, e-hailing vehicles and other non-UCT vehicles that need access.

South gates:

• As of 13 October, the south entrance and exit gates to upper campus will be closed daily from 20:00 until 05:00, as well as over weekends and on public holidays.
• The north entrance to upper campus will remain open for access.

Sports Centre checkpoint:

• As of 13 October, CPS will operate a checkpoint at the north entrance to campus, opposite the Sports Centre.
• The checkpoint will operate daily from 20:00 to 05:00. During these times, this will be the only entry point onto upper campus (internal booms will remain open).
• All vehicles will be checked during these times.
• Staff and students will require a valid staff/student card to gain access.
• Contractors/vendors will require a valid works’ order.

Movement of goods:

• As of 13 October, all staff/students and contractors/vendors moving goods off any campus will be required to carry and produce a valid Goods Movement Permit (BAS01).
• CPS will conduct random checks throughout the day, and the relevant documentation will need to be presented upon request.

For more information, contact Megan Dick.

8. Design Thinking programme

The Hasso Plattner d-school Afrika (d-school Africa) has opened applications for the Fast-Forward for the Higher Education Professionals Programme. It is entirely free for all higher education staff members across South African universities.

Fast-Forward aims to empower professionals, individuals and faculty with human-centred approaches to real-world problem-solving through interactive, expert-guided workshops. Participants can choose to take this one-day course on either 11 or 13 November 2025, with workshops to be held at the d-school Africa, middle campus.

The programme will highlight how a human-centred design approach to education means integrating tools and innovative methods. The outcomes result in educators becoming better at facilitating group work, creativity and sparking greater engagement.

Participants can expect an introduction to design thinking mindsets and an exploration of design thinking approaches through practical, team-based exercises – such as building an ideal university of the future or structuring more impactful online classes.

• Apply for the programme.

Applications close on Tuesday, 28 October 2025

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements