Inaugural lecture by Professor Pillay and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

Professor Komala Pillay will deliver her inaugural lecture as part of the University of Cape Town (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Thursday, 30 October 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Komala Pillay (Faculty of Health Sciences)

Professor Pillay will present her lecture, “Give the PATH less travelled a chance, it may turn out to be magical”, on Thursday, 30 October 2025 at 18:00 at the New Learning Centre Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building on the health sciences campus.

Professor Pillay’s lecture will explore her path into anatomical pathology, a field often underappreciated but crucial to contemporary medicine. She will share her early experiences as a medical student and the research opportunities that shaped her professional journey. The lecture will also honour the mentors, colleagues, students and collaborators who have influenced her work, demonstrating how service delivery has fuelled progress in research and education.

Professor Pillay holds the Wernher and Beit Chair and is the head of the Division of Anatomical Pathology at UCT and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), based at Groote Schuur and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s hospitals. She is also an honorary professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Walter Sisulu University. Her medical and specialist qualifications were obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, UCT, the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa and the Royal College of Pathologists in the United Kingdom.

Her academic career integrates clinical service, research, teaching and leadership. She has published over 100 peer-reviewed papers covering oncology, neuropathology, placental pathology, lymphoma and infectious diseases. She has supervised numerous postgraduate students and played a key role in reconfiguring pathology teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Pillay serves as president of the College of Pathologists of South Africa, chairs the NHLS Anatomical Pathology Expert Committee, advises the UK Royal College of Pathologists, and is a member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Prevention and Control of Cancer.

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

2. Nominations open for VC’s Excellence Awards 2025

There are only a few days left to make nominations ahead of the upcoming 2025 UCT Staff Awards, scheduled for November. These awards will celebrate individuals and teams who have made outstanding contributions to the university.

Nominations can be made for the Global Citizenship Award and the Service Excellence Award, which encourage strong participation from professional, administrative support, and service (PASS) staff. Staff leading or contributing to transformation initiatives are also invited to apply for, or nominate colleagues for, the Transformation Award.

• 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.

3. Evening of creativity at UCT photography showcase

The UCT community is invited to the upcoming UCT Photography Showcase, an evening celebrating creativity, connection and belonging. Hosted by the Environmental Wellness Sub-Council and the Information Technology Sub-Council, the event is presented in collaboration with the Centre for Wellbeing and Flourishing and the global non-governmental organisation Seeing Happy. It is supported by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness, Professor Elelwani Ramugondo.

The showcase forms part of the This Is Me campaign – A Portrait of Hope, Legacy and Belonging – launched during the UCT Flourish Summit in August 2025. The initiative invited students, staff and alumni to share what flourishing means to them through photography. More than 230 photographs have been submitted, each paired with a personal story. Some depict the courage of “doing it scared, but doing it anyway,” while others reflect family, culture and identity. Together, they create a living archive of flourishing at UCT.

The event will be held on Friday, 24 October 2025 from 19:00 to 21:00, with the venue details shared upon RSVP. The evening will open with an exhibition of all submissions, followed by short reflections from selected student photographers on the inspiration behind their portraits. The showcase highlights how flourishing is experienced daily and aligns with Seeing Happy’s global mission to promote wellbeing through photography, which is uniquely expressed through the UCT community. .

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

4. Opera UCT presents Die Fledermaus

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

Christine Crouse directs the production, and Professor Jeremy Silver provides musical direction. Renowned fashion designer Gavin Rajah designed the costumes, which bring modern elegance to the stage. Allegra Bernacchione’s imaginative set design enhances the production.

The performance will feature the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Professor Silver, in collaboration with the talented singers and musicians of Opera UCT.

• Buy tickets.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements