Spring graduation: ‘Be kind and compassionate’

The University of Cape Town (UCT) celebrated its latest graduates during jovial ceremonies across three days, from 7 to 9 September.

Over 2 300 students were capped at the iconic Sarah Baartman Hall in the presence of their families, friends, guardians, lecturers, and university staff – an ecosystem that has shaped their years of studies. Across eight ceremonies, UCT 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.

Presiding over one of the ceremonies, UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela addressed family members: “I know that it’s the graduates who have walked across the stage, but in many ways, this is also your day. This is an important rite of passage where all of us stop what we do and come sit here and honour every single graduate who walks this stage for the journey they have travelled ever since the first day they arrived on this campus.”

As usual, Marimba Jam and the South African School of Music (SACM) at UCT provided rich entertainment for the audience, while praise poet Neliswa Sampi was on hand to shower blessings on friends, family, UCT staff and graduates.

“For many of them, it was a joyous, easy journey,” said Professor Moshabela, to which the seated graduates shook their heads, eliciting laugher in the room. “For some of them, it was difficult, but it’s been a journey that has been full of ups and downs. It’s a journey that has tested their strength of character and resilience and they have demonstrated that they have earned the right to walk this stage. Let me tell you, that they have now conquered the mountain.”

He added: “I look forward to graduation because it is the evidence of the culmination of what we do as a university: we value excellence and we do our best to make sure that we train our graduates for them to share in those values of excellence.” Moshabela also paid tribute to staff, saying running an enterprise like a university, at the standard at which UCT does, requires a collective effort. “To do this work, you have to have a love for learning and teaching, a love for research and enquiry; you must embrace critical thinking and be open to being challenged by students. You must be willing to adapt to new forms of learning as the discourse of learning keeps transforming. We have to adapt to the kind of students we have because every cohort brings with them certain characteristics unique only to them.”  

Turning to the graduates, Moshabela said: “It is easy to take for granted the character of a person, but we know that what is required now is a graduate who can become the kind of leader who can demonstrably care about other human beings. Right now, you have earned the right to be a UCT alumnus.”

“We pride ourselves in being able to have the privilege of training and educating top talent.”

He continued: “I hope most of you will continue the journey of lifelong learning. You are all talented, gifted and smart, which is why you have walked this stage. We pride ourselves in our pursuit of excellence and our commitment to serve society. We pride ourselves in being able to have the privilege of training and educating top talent. We pride ourselves in having top talent among our ranks of academics and staff, so as alumnus, when you are out there in the world, don’t hold back: do show off, but be nice about it (laughs). Remember to be kind and to have compassion for other people.”

The Faculty of Commerce graduated 33 PhDs, one of the largest PhD graduation in a single ceremony. What’s more, a record number of UCT colleagues were in this cohort. In addition to that, 10 times more master’s students who submitted their dissertations in February met the graduation deadline for September than in any previous year. Faculty dean, Professor Suki Goodman, said: “This means Commerce is now operating on an examination timeline of approximately four months for most master’s students, less than half of our historical turnaround time, and significantly faster than the broader institutional norm.”

Trust

Moshabela concluded his address with a focus on trust. “We used to assess a graduate based on qualifications – but the world is changing and more than qualifications, increasingly, the world wants to know your character. This is because there has been such an erosion of trust that employers cannot afford to have employees they cannot trust.

“When you think of trust, think of three things: competency at all times (being good at what you do); integrity (consistently keeping your word); and benevolence (not abusing the trust given to you). Your success will not only be defined by how good you are intellectually, but also about the human being that you are.”

Of course, outside the hall, raw emotion and lively scenes were the order of the day as graduates danced with their support structures, strutted their fashion and soaked in having conquered the mountain at Africa’s top university.

Graduation titbits

• High praise: It was fitting that incumbent praise singer (imbongi) Neliswa Sampi got the loudest cheer when she graduated on 8 September. The academic procession on stage stood in applause.
• Daddy’s boy: A young lad in the audience, who couldn’t be older than 10, dressed in a navy suit, stood and shouted: “That’s my father!” as his dad collected his PhD from stage; a fitting omen to education.
• VC’s persuasion: The VC spoke at length about the idea of lifelong learning. One student, while taking photos with his family outside the hall, quipped, “I think I am convinced to take my education further.” His mom responded: “Oh absolutely, so I can return to this iconic hall at least one more time.”
• Broadcaster’s lane: Of the many familiar faces spotted, respected news anchors Vaylen Kirtley and Shahan Ramkissoon, were part of the Commerce master’s and PhD group of happy graduates.
• Just a number: 80-year-old sheep farmer Charl Johannes van der Merwe received a stirring round of applause from his Commerce peers as his salt and pepper hair showed that age is just a number in this lifelong learning mission.
• Voice of news: Cwenga Koyana, the voice behind UCT News’ audio-recorded news section and Miss South Africa 2026 Top 19 finalist, graduated with her master’s degree (with distinction) on 8 September.