Inaugural lecture by Professor Mendelsohn and other updates

Dear colleagues and students

The next lecture in the University of Cape Town (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series will be delivered by Professor Adam Mendelsohn on Wednesday, 29 April 2026. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

Professor Adam Mendelsohn will present his inaugural lecture, “Where to for the Jews?”, on Wednesday, 29 April 2026 at 18:00 SAST in Auditorium LT1, Neville Alexander Building, lower campus.

Historians are often cautious about predicting the future, but moments of change invite reflection. Drawing on decades of data from the Kaplan Centre for Jewish Studies, Professor Mendelsohn will examine the demographic, religious and political forces shaping Jewish life in South Africa today.

The lecture places current developments in historical context, exploring migration, identity and prejudice to understand how Jewish communities have evolved and where they may be heading. By linking past and present, it offers a grounded view of the future of Jewish life in South Africa.

Mendelsohn is the director of the Kaplan Centre at UCT. He specialises in comparative Jewish history, with a focus on South Africa and the United States. His work spans migration, identity and economic mobility, and has informed major exhibitions internationally. His research path began during an exchange at the University of Wisconsin and continues through large-scale projects, including recent work on the Jewish experience during the American Civil War.

• Read the full VC Desk: Upcoming UCT inaugural lectures: March and April 2026.

• Register to attend the lecture.

UCT is commemorating the fifth anniversary of the 18 April 2021 fire, which severely damaged the Jagger Library and other campus buildings, through a commemorative event titled “Opportunity in Loss”, focusing on renewal and future possibilities.

The commemoration signals a shift towards rebuilding and reimagining UCT Libraries. Plans include restoring physical spaces with a modern, sustainable design; expanding digital access; strengthening community engagement; and creating a more inclusive learning environment for students and staff. The approach balances reflection on loss with a clear focus on progress.

A special event held on the evening of 17 April featured a curated exhibition in and around the Jagger Reading Room. The exhibition opened to the public on 20 April and remains open until 15 May 2026. Weekday guided tours will run twice daily for groups of up to 20 visitors, with bookings available online. The exhibition will be closed on weekends and public holidays.

• Read the full Campus Announcement: UCT to commemorate fifth anniversary of Jagger fire.

Further information is available via the UCT Jagger Libraries recovery page and the Special Collections recovery project.

UCT will host the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) Global Mental Health Symposium 2026 at the Graduate School of Business on 23 and 24 June 2026. The WUN Mental Health Leadership Group invites members of the UCT research community to submit abstracts.

The 2026 theme, “Digital mental health and inequalities”, calls for oral presentations, posters and panel proposals aligned with the symposium’s sub-themes. The event will bring together researchers, policy makers, practitioners and community advocates to engage on global mental health challenges.

The symposium aims to deepen collaboration across WUN, the African Research Universities Alliance and the ASEAN University Network, with a focus on advancing research and coordinated responses to mental health inequalities.

• Read more about the concept and sub-themes.
• Access the submission guidelines and abstract portal.
• Register before 29 May 2026.

For more information, please contact the WUN 2026 Committee.

UCT’s Student Wellness Service (SWS), based in the Department of Student Affairs, provides primary healthcare and wellness support for students’ physical, mental and emotional well-being. These services are available throughout the academic year.

• Read the full Campus Announcement: Student support services offered by SWS.

Any further queries can be forwarded to the SWS practice manager.

The UCT Athletics Clubs will host the annual UCT 10km Memorial Run on Sunday, 3 May 2026 from 07:00. This run will be held to remember and celebrate the life of Dr Lindsay Weight, one of UCT’s best ultra-marathon runners.

Dr Weight obtained a doctorate in medical science at UCT and was an academic in the Department of Human Biology, where she contributed to curriculum changes in the Faculty of Health Sciences in the early 2000s.  

The UCT 10km Memorial Run will celebrate her achievements as a student-athlete representing the UCT Athletics Club, as well as her intellectual contribution as an academic in the Department of Human Biology.

The race details are as follows:

Date: Sunday, 3 May 2026.

Time: 07:00

Venue: Middle campus – the starting point is opposite Masingene Building

Entry fee: R120 for licenced runners and R180 for unlicenced runners

Entries are limited to 2 000 runners.

• Enter the race.

This is an official race approved by Western Province Athletics.

For more information, contact the UCT Athletics Club or call 021 650 2177

The UCT community is advised that on Sunday, 26 April 2026, there 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 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