Inaugural lecture by Professor Matjila and other updates

Dear colleagues

Professor Mushi Matjila will present his lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Thursday, 17 September. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Mushi Matjila (Faculty of Health Sciences)

Professor Mushi Matjila will present his lecture as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series on Thursday, 17 September. The lecture, titled "Navigating Growth through the Support of Others: From Kiss-ing in the Placental Bed, through to Research Policy and Placenta Mediated Disorders", will start at 17:30 SAST in the New Learning Centre Lecture Theatre, Anatomy Building, health sciences campus.

Professor Matjila’s lecture will focus on his research into placental biology and its role in pregnancy-related disorders, including preeclampsia, recurrent pregnancy loss and gestational diabetes. He will discuss his work on kisspeptin and other molecules at the maternal-fetal interface, and how this research is contributing to a better understanding of placenta-mediated disorders. He will also reflect on the people, partnerships and experiences that have shaped his academic and clinical career, his contributions to national health research policy, and the vision of expanding access to quality healthcare for women. The lecture will conclude with the story behind the Human African Molecular PLacental REsearch PlaTform (HAMLET) and its contribution to advancing placental research in Africa.

Professor Matjila is head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Groote Schuur Hospital. He is the director and co-principal investigator of HAMLET and co-founder of the African Placental Network. His clinical interests include high-risk obstetrics and reproductive medicine, while his research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying placenta-mediated disorders. He has also served in national health research leadership roles and contributed to postgraduate training, health policy and international research collaboration.

• Read the full VC Desk: Upcoming UCT inaugural lectures: September 2026.
• Register to attend the lecture.

2. SRC elections season to take place from 14 to 18 September 2026

Election season is officially under way, with the 2026 Students’ Representative Council (SRC) elections taking place from 14 to 18 September 2026. Candidates for the SRC are permitted to campaign between 14 and 16 September; while voting will open from 17 to 18 September 2026.

The Faculty Council elections for the Commerce Student Council, Engineering & the Built Environment Engineering Student Council, and Science Students’ Council will run concurrently with the SRC elections.

The elections provide students with an opportunity to participate in student governance and elect representatives who will advocate for their interests and contribute to decision-making within the university.

Students are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the candidates, election processes and important information ahead of the voting period.

Visit the Linktree to access the candidate manifestos, election regulations, voting information and other important election resources.

• Cast your vote.

This is your campus. Vote like it.

3. UCT's spring graduands ready to shape a fair and just society

The UCT Spring graduation season concluded on Wednesday, 9 September 2026, celebrating approximately 2 320 graduates who have crossed the stage since Monday, 7 September. Across eight ceremonies, UCT has conferred 125 undergraduate diplomas and certificates, 693 bachelor’s degrees, 189 honours degrees, 202 postgraduate diplomas and certificates, 955 master’s degrees and 155 doctoral degrees.

Graduation is one of UCT’s most cherished traditions, celebrating academic achievement and the university’s commitment, through Strategy 2030, to unleashing human potential for a fair and just society. As the graduates join UCT’s global alumni community, they carry with them the knowledge, skills and values to contribute meaningfully to their communities, across Africa and around the world. Their achievements also reflect the support of families, friends, mentors, lecturers and staff who have helped them reach this milestone.

As the Spring Graduation ceremonies draw to a close, UCT congratulates all its graduates and recognises the determination, discipline and perseverance that brought them to this moment.

• Read the full VC Desk: UCT's spring graduands ready to shape a fair and just society.

4. Reminder: UCT to host THE World Academic Summit 2026

UCT will host the Times Higher Education (THE) World Academic Summit (WAS) 2026 from 29 September to 1 October 2026. The summit, hosted in partnership with the University of Bristol and THE, marks the first time this global gathering of higher education leaders will take place on the African continent. Under the theme “Knowledge, justice and futures: Universities in the age of intelligence”, the summit will bring vice-chancellors, university presidents, policymakers, academics and industry leaders to Cape Town to examine the future of higher education.

• View the programme.
• Buy tickets.

As the first African institution to host the summit, UCT will provide a platform for African and Global South perspectives while facilitating conversations on the role of universities in a rapidly changing world. Discussions will explore purpose-driven knowledge, justice and accountability in higher education, equitable global partnerships, innovation and entrepreneurship, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence. These conversations align with UCT’s Strategy 2030 and its commitment to creating knowledge that serves society and contributes to the public good.

The summit’s four core themes are the future university: purpose, people, pedagogy and planet; universities and society: trust, justice and public good; reframing global collaboration: equity, co-creation and resilient societies; and ethical AI, access and innovation.

Highlights will be available on the dedicated UCT feature page.

5. Approved Integrated Waste Management service provider

The university has appointed Don’t Waste as its official Integrated Waste Management service provider, following a formal tender process.

Don’t Waste is the only waste collection vendor permitted to operate on UCT premises. Its contracted services include the collection of general waste, recyclable materials and white paper across all UCT campuses.

Independent waste collectors, small vendors and other unauthorised service providers may not collect waste, recycling or white paper from UCT premises. Faculties and departments may therefore not appoint, engage or allow these vendors access to UCT premises for waste collection purposes.

UCT is entering the next phase of its Integrated Waste Management Programme, with a stronger focus on improving recycling and accurately recording the university’s waste and recycling performance.

All faculties and departments are requested to:

• Use only Don’t Waste for the collection of general waste, recyclable materials and white paper.
• Ensure that independent waste collectors and unauthorised vendors are not permitted to collect waste from UCT premises.
• Place recyclable materials and white paper at the designated collection points.
• Support the university’s waste separation and recycling initiatives.

When waste is collected by unauthorised service providers, the recycling volumes are not recorded against UCT’s account. As a result, the university loses valuable recycling statistics and the associated rebates.

Accurate waste and recycling information also supports UCT’s sustainability monitoring and reporting, including the university’s participation in the QS World University Rankings: Sustainability and the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. Sustainability performance also contributes to UCT’s overall QS World University Ranking.

The cooperation of all faculties and departments will help UCT to:

• accurately measure its recycling performance
• maximise the rebates available to the university
• reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill
• strengthen its sustainability reporting and international standing

6. Final examination timetable published

The UCT Examinations Office has published the second provisional timetable for the year-end examination cycle scheduled for 5 to 23 November 2026. Students can view their timetable on the examinations website. Any requests for amendments must be submitted to the relevant academic department for consideration by the Head of Department (HoD). Students are advised not to make travel arrangements until the final timetable has been published on 23 September 2026.

• View the timetable.

UCT wishes all students the very best as they prepare for their examinations.

7. ICTS scheduled maintenance on Sunday, 13 September

Please note that Sunday, 13 September 2026 will be an ICTS scheduled maintenance slot from 07:00 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 unaffected and remain accessible.

Important: During this slot, ICTS will also update authentication certificates for the connectivity services, as part of efforts to maintain a secure and trusted network environment. As a result, you will need to take action on 13 September 2026 (or the next time you are on campus thereafter).

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

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