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Gun violence is South Africa’s neglected public health emergency – experts Gun violence should no longer be viewed primarily as a criminal justice issue but as a sustained public health problem requiring urgent intervention across South Africa’s health system, according to a new editorial published in the South African Medical Journal . 09 Jun 2026 Media release

Climate hazards deepen health risks across Africa – UCT study Climate-related hazards are impacting community health and healthcare provision across the African continent, resulting in increased vulnerability and reduced capacity to withstand further impacts, a paper by the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Elzarie Theron and Dr Wayne Smith of the Division of Emergency Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences warns. 02 Jun 2026 Media release

UCT lecture explores how catalysis can drive a just and sustainable transition A University of Cape Town (UCT) Inaugural Lecture by Professor Nico Fischer will examine how one of the most influential yet often overlooked areas of science could help redefine the relationship between industrial growth and environmental sustainability. 02 Jun 2026 Media release

UCT signs renewable energy agreement with Discovery Green The University of Cape Town (UCT) has signed a groundbreaking long-term renewable electricity supply agreement with Discovery Green as part of a broader strategic partnership focused on advancing sustainable energy and skills development. 02 Jun 2026 Media release

Sightings of blue and fin whales on the rise in the South-East Atlantic More than 40 years after the end of commercial whaling, new research led by the University of Cape Town (UCT) reveals a recent increase in sightings of the world’s two largest whale species in the southeastern Atlantic. 01 Jun 2026 Media release

Study finds surveillance technologies can marginalise local communities A new research paper co-authored by Grant Oosterwyk of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) School of Information Technology has argued that surveillance technologies imported from the Global North into postcolonial cities can reshape public debate, governance and understandings of safety in ways that deepen inequality and marginalise community voices. The paper will be presented at the Pacific-Asia Conference on Information Systems in Jakarta, Indonesia in July 2026. 01 Jun 2026 Media release

UCT hosts largest global safe sport gathering on African soil More than 500 delegates from 87 countries gathered at the University of Cape Town (UCT) from 25 to 27 May 2026 for the Safe Sport 2026 conference, the most internationally representative gathering of the global safe sport movement to date. 28 May 2026 Media release

UCT study reveals hidden hiring bias locking black graduates out of jobs In corporate graduate recruitment worldwide, candidates are often assessed not only on competence but also on their relatability. 27 May 2026 Media release

AI boom comes with hidden environmental and social costs As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly transforms industries and drives global innovation, a University of Cape Town (UCT) researcher, Grant Oosterwyk, warns that the growing demand for AI-driven data centres is creating significant environmental, social and political challenges that often go unnoticed amid the promise of technological progress. 26 May 2026 Media release

UCT study reveals critical gaps in early cancer diagnosis across Southern Africa A major study led by researchers at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences has revealed significant gaps in the readiness of health facilities to detect and diagnose cancer early across Southern Africa. The study highlights urgent opportunities to strengthen health systems and improve patient outcomes. 26 May 2026 Media release

UCT lecture unpacks patterns shaping linguistic reality The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Ryan Nefdt presented an engaging viewpoint in the longstanding debate about the science of language at his recent UCT Inaugural Lecture. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT cardiologist receives highest national order University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Karen Sliwa-Hahnle , a world-renowned clinical cardiologist, has described the Order of Mapungubwe bestowed upon her as “meaningful recognition” of the more than two decades of outstanding work. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT research centre secures SAHPRA licence to manufacture medical devices The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Biomedical Engineering Research Centre (BMERC) has officially received its medical device manufacturing licence from the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), marking a major milestone for locally developed healthcare innovation. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT professor wins prestigious L’Oréal-UNESCO International Science Award The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Liesl Zühlke has been selected as the 2026 L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award Laureate for Africa and the Arab States in the field of Life and Environmental Sciences. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT scientist earns top Harvard Fellowship for groundbreaking stem cell research The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Dr Mubeen Goolam – principal investigator of the Stem Cell Modelling of Development and Disease Group , jointly based in the Department of Human Biology and the Neuroscience Institute – has been awarded a 2026–2027 Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellowship, a highly acclaimed award conferred to esteemed scholars across a multitude of disciplines. 25 May 2026 Media release

UCT lecture to explore how universities can cultivate intellectual growth, belonging and transformation The University of Cape Town (UCT)’s Professor Kasturi Behari-Leak will position academic and professional staff development as a critical site of institutional and sectoral transformation in her UCT Inaugural Lecture on Tuesday, 26 May 2026 at 18:00 SAST. 21 May 2026 Media release

UCT lecture highlights power of mathematical modelling in saving lives Professor Sheetal Silal , director of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Modelling and Simulation Hub, Africa (MASHA) , recently delivered an inspiring and engaging inaugural lecture titled “Models, Policy and People: Predicting Health Impact in a Complex World”. 21 May 2026 Media release

UCT PhD candidate awarded national honour for arts contribution In recognition of his contribution to performance art, curation and arts education in South Africa, Gavin Krastin, a PhD candidate at the University of Cape Town (UCT), has been awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Bronze, a distinguished national honour presented by the state president to esteemed citizens. 21 May 2026 Media release

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