Inaugural lecture by Professor Pillay and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Professor Suren Pillay will deliver his inaugural lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Tuesday, 21 October 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Suren Pillay (Faculty of Humanities)

Professor Pillay will present his lecture, “The Eye Crosses the River Before the Body: Being and Becoming African in the University”, on Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 17:30 SAST in the Mafeje Room, Bremner Building on lower campus.

In his lecture, Professor Pillay will reflect on the unresolved legacies of colonialism in South Africa and how they shape higher education today. He will examine what it means to decolonise universities in a society that often views its experience as unique, rather than part of a wider African and global story. Drawing on two decades of scholarship, he will explore the challenges and opportunities of Africanising apartheid-era universities and consider how the humanities and social sciences can either reinforce colonial frameworks or open space for new ways of understanding the world.

Professor Pillay holds the AC Jordan Chair in African Studies and directs the Centre for African Studies at UCT. His research focuses on political violence, citizenship, justice and the politics of knowledge in postcolonial contexts. His books include Predicaments of Knowledge: Decolonization and Deracialization in Universities and On the Subject of Citizenship: Late Colonialism in the World Today, and he co-edited Truth vs Justice? The Dilemmas of Transitional Justice in Africa. He earned his MPhil and PhD in anthropology from Columbia University and has held visiting positions at several international institutions. His work reflects a sustained commitment to building intellectual networks across the Global South and advancing debates on decolonisation in South Africa.

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

2. First-ever THE World Academic Summit in Africa

UCT will host the first-ever Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit (WAS) in Africa in 2026. The announcement was made at the 2025 summit recently hosted in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.

The summit will take place from 29 September to 1 October 2026, in partnership with the University of Bristol (UoB), a long-standing strategic partner committed to advancing knowledge for the public good.

Hosting the summit marks a major milestone for African higher education and highlights the continent’s contribution to global scholarship and innovation. Under the theme “Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence”, the summit will bring together global leaders in academia, research, policy, business and civil society to explore the role of universities in a changing world. Its focus areas align closely with UCT’s Strategy 2030 and its commitment to social impact and equitable partnerships.

UCT has also improved its ranking in the 2026 THE World University Rankings from 180 to 164, placing in the top 7.5% of 2 191 universities worldwide. This builds on the institution’s strong recent performance in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) rankings, where it rose to 150th globally.

These achievements reflect the dedication and excellence of UCT’s staff and students, whose commitment to rigorous research, transformative teaching and public engagement continues to drive the university’s success.

• Read more about the 2026 summit.
• Read the full VC Desk: UCT to host first-ever THE World Academic Summit in Africa.

3. The 2026 budget process

UCT has started its 2026 budget process, guided by financial sustainability, transparency and collaboration. The process began in June with the distribution of budget guidelines and will conclude with Council approval in December. By August, the finance department had received operating and capital budget submissions, which were consolidated into a first draft. In September, the Planning and Budgeting Working Group, chaired by Chief Financial Officer Mr Vincent Motholo, met with budget heads to review and refine these submissions.

The focus of the Resource Allocation Advisory Group (RAAG), chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela, includes operating budgets, capital spending, strategic investments, net investment income and the university’s cash position. RAAG’s recommendations will shape the final proposal to be presented to the University Finance Committee in November and, ultimately, to Council.

UCT continues to face financial pressure due to operating surpluses that are lower than targeted. To manage this, the executive has maintained a cash-neutral budgeting approach for 2026. The first consolidated budget shows a R115 million deficit in the General Operating Budget and R400 million for capital and strategic projects. With a projected net investment income of R200 million, the university must improve its position by R300 million to avoid further erosion of its cash reserves. Achieving this will require careful trade-offs and strong financial discipline to protect the academic project and ensure long-term sustainability.

• Read the full CFO Desk: The 2026 budget process.

4. Nominations open for VC’s Excellence Awards 2025

The 2025 UCT Staff Awards, scheduled for November, will recognise individuals and teams who have made exceptional contributions to the university.

Nominations are still open across all categories, including the Global Citizenship Award and the Service Excellence Award, which particularly encourage participation from professional, administrative support and service (PASS) staff.

Staff involved in transformation initiatives are also invited to apply for or nominate colleagues for the Transformation Award. Nominees may be individuals or teams whose work reflects UCT’s values 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. Partial reopening of P8 parking area

Following the findings of the recent geotechnical report, it has been determined that sections of the P8 parking area can be reopened. Vehicles are now permitted to park in the smaller (top) P8 parking area, as well as in sections of the lower P8 parking area.

Commuters are requested to respect the sections of P7 and P8 that remain closed. These measures are necessary to ensure the safety of everyone.

Further updates will be communicated as new information becomes available.

For more information, contact Megan Dick.

6. Temporary suspension of the UCT Shuttle due to the Cape Town Marathon

The annual Sanlam Cape Town Marathon will take place on Sunday, 19 October 2025. The UCT community is advised that several road closures in the vicinity of the university will affect the operation of the UCT Shuttle service.

Staff and students are advised to take note of the following and make alternative:

• All shuttle services will be suspended from 07:00 to 10:00 on Sunday, 19 October.
• Hiddingh Campus shuttle services will be suspended from 07:00 to 13:00 on the same day.

Shuttles will be on standby at Tugwell and will resume service earlier if roads become accessible.

For more information, please visit the route maps and timetables page on the UCT website, or check the UCT Shuttle app (download on Google Play or App Store).

The Marathon will operate a Park & Ride from UCT’s P1 and P6 parking areas, but this will not impact the shuttle service.

7. ICTS scheduled maintenance on Sunday, 19 October

The UCT community is advised that Sunday, 19 October 2025, will be an ICTS scheduled maintenance slot from 09:00 to 17:00. Unless advised to the contrary, do not expect any on-premise ICT services to be available for the duration of the maintenance slot. Cloud-based services (including Amathuba, email, Microsoft 365 services and ServiceNow) are not impacted and can still be accessed.

Please remember to consult the scheduled ICTS maintenance slots page for more information, including the reasons for regular monthly maintenance and to assist with planning any teaching, conferences, meetings, etc. that require ICT services.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements