Legacy, laughter and lifelong bonds

The University of Cape Town (UCT) threw a double celebration that had alumni, students, and staff grinning from ear to ear over the weekend. Kopano Residence marked its 80th anniversary on Saturday night, while Leo Marquard Hall celebrated its golden jubilee the night before.

Together, they reminded everyone that UCT residences are more than buildings – they are incubators of friendship, leadership, and unforgettable stories. For instance, at Leo Marquard, there are various initiatives to support residents to succeed, and former Kopano residents have a bursary fund to support students in need of financial aid.

For Leo Marquard, the milestone was a riot of laughter, reflection, and heartfelt speeches, all celebrating five decades of brotherhood, academic excellence, and cheeky rivalry on the sports field.

Representing Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness Professor Elelwani Ramugodondo, who delivered the key keynote address at both events, kicked things off with news to make any UCT alum beam: the university will host the Times Higher Education (THE) Summit in 2026. “Professor Moshabela would have loved to be here,” she said. “But he comes back [from the 2024 THE Summit in Saudi Arabia] bearing good news. Hosting the summit will place UCT – and South Africa – on a world stage once again.”

“A UCT degree is about humanity”

Professor Ramugondo reflected on what makes Leo Marquard special, reminding everyone that leadership and character are learned, not inherited. “There can be good men, and there can be men who learn to become good men. The world needs good men.” Applause erupted as she added that true strength lies in empathy, integrity, and service – lessons just as relevant to today’s students as they were to past generations.

She also reflected on the meaning and power of a UCT degree – a recurring theme in the evening’s tributes. “It is often taken for granted,” she said, “but a UCT degree is not just meant to open doors – that’s not even half the story. It’s about using what you’ve learned to make the world a better place.”

Drawing on her own professional journey, Ramugondo shared how her UCT education had empowered her to bring dignity and transformation to her field of occupational therapy. “One of the first things I did was to change how learners with disabilities were treated – no longer being hosed down, but given proper showers and respect,” she recalled. “It was about restoring dignity. That is what a UCT degree taught me: to lead with humanity.”

She added that her education had equipped her to challenge outdated approaches to assessment, designing locally relevant methods for learners in South Africa’s rural schools. “I remember thinking I’d get into trouble for doing things differently,” she laughed, “but it had to be done – because intellect, humour, and joy are part of being human.”

Her pride extended to other UCT alumni making an impact globally. “The two people currently keeping the lights on in South Africa are both UCT graduates,” she said. “That’s the power of this institution – and the mark of what it means to be a Marquard alumnus.”

Remembering Leo Marquard’s legacy

Hugh Amoore, emeritus registrar and former Kopano resident, reminded everyone that Leo Marquard was more than an academic star – he was a mentor and a co-founder of the National Union of South African Students (NUSAS) in 1924. His guidance shaped future leaders, including anti-apartheid lawyer Bram Fischer.

“Leo would have been immensely proud of Marquard today,” Amoore said. “The residence continues to value what he stood for – merit, hard work, and excellence – and to use those qualities in the service of others.”
 

You have a great system of mentors and leaders. Cherish that – it’s what will carry you through university and through life.”

No golden jubilee would be complete without a healthy dose of nostalgia. Malcom Titley, one of the first residents, transported everyone back to the 1970s, a time of no smartphones, Wi-Fi, or sports TV.

Having spent decades abroad in Australia and the United Kingdom, he returned to Africa with his wife, a Tugwell alumna he met at UCT in 1978, to mark both the residence’s golden jubilee and their wedding anniversary.

Nostalgia from the 1970s

Life at Leo Marquard in the 1970s, he recalled, was built around face-to-face communication, common-room camaraderie, and outdoor adventure. “We had notice boards and little pigeonholes where people left notes if they wanted to see you,” he said. “No one was distracted by these evil devices we hold in our hands now.”

Students gathered in the common room to play backgammon and chess, or on the fields for touch rugby and even “underwater hockey”, an unusual sport he laughed about. Rag Week and charity drives were highlights of the social calendar, strengthening the residence’s connection to the broader Cape Town community.

Though academics weren’t always the top priority then, he noted, “Those of us who got through it welcomed our degrees and used them well. We definitely made a great life out of what we learned at UCT.”
 

“Greatness is not because there’s a warden or an ops team, it’s because there are people who live here who make this a home.”

Reflecting on the present, he praised today’s Marquard residence for its focus on leadership and support. “You have a great system of mentors and leaders,” he said. “Cherish that – it’s what will carry you through university and through life.”

Outgoing Warden Daniel Munene, who has led the residence since 2009, delivered an impassioned farewell speech at the celebration, describing the event as both “a golden milestone and a personal handover to a new legacy, a new legend who will steer Marquard to the next 50 years”.

Reflecting on his 15-year tenure, he thanked generations of students, colleagues, and staff who helped make the residence “a home away from home”. He paid special tribute to cleaning and dining hall staff, sub-wardens, and the operations team: “Greatness is not because there’s a warden or an ops team – it’s because there are people who live here who make this a home.”

He highlighted the residence’s contribution to university life, referencing its role in fostering critical thinking, academic excellence, and even student activism. “We’ve had legends here who inspired movements that changed not only UCT, but universities across the world,” he said.