Welcome to the University of Cape Town News
Wamkelekile, Welkom
Wamkelekile, Welkom
UCT study gives a voice to Black migrant women workers
Black migrant women working in South Africa – though highly skilled and contributing a lot to the economy – often face discrimination, xenophobia and exclusion at work and in society, a University of Cape Town (UCT) study has found.
09 Sep 2025
Media release
UCT study finds that malnutrition and pneumonia are major contributors to infant mortality
A University of Cape Town (UCT) study has found that malnutrition and pneumonia are major contributors to under-five mortality, with evidence suggesting the gut microbiome plays an important role in developing these conditions.
09 Sep 2025
Media release
Almost 2 500 students to be honoured at UCT’s Spring 2025 graduation
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is celebrating the achievements of about 2 440 graduands across all faculties at the Spring 2025 graduation, which commenced on Monday, 8 September and will continue until Wednesday, 10 September 2025.
09 Sep 2025
Media release
From carer to advocate: UCT graduate champions disability inclusion
When her father became a quadriplegic after an accident at age 30, Deborah van der Berg stepped into the role of a caregiver. This life-changing experience led her toward disability advocacy, inclusion and community empowerment. Now, as she graduates with a higher certificate in disability studies from the University of Cape Town (UCT), she is turning that lived experience into a lifelong mission to transform how society embraces diverse abilities.
04 Sep 2025
Media release
‘Black Tax’ – Blacks raised with a sense of responsibility for larger family, UCT study finds
Familial financial support – often referred to as ‘Black Tax’ – is very common among Black South Africans. It teaches and expects of family members to contribute to the general good of the extended family.
04 Sep 2025
Media release
UCT graduate traces and rewrites her Indian indenture ancestry in SA through art
The history of the indentured Indians who left their homeland to work in the sugar plantations in the British Colony of Natal from 1860 to 1911 will come into focus when University of Cape Town (UCT) visual artist Zenaéca Singh graduates with her Master’s in Fine Art on Wednesday, 10 September 2025. This marks a key moment in her artistic journey to unleash this history of indentured Indians through art.
04 Sep 2025
Media release
From lockdown struggles to boat race glory: the rise of UCT’s student-athlete
For 23-year-old Thomas White , who will graduate with a BSc (Eng) in Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering on Monday, 8 September 2025, the waters of Zeekoevlei Lake and the lecture halls of the University of Cape Town (UCT) have been twin arenas of discipline and discovery – places where resilience, determination and a pursuit of excellence have shaped both his rowing and academic journeys.
03 Sep 2025
Media release
UCT lecture to examine the evolution of evaluation practice
Professor Sarah Chapman, director of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Institute for Monitoring and Evaluation , will deliver a thought-provoking lecture on Tuesday, 2 September 2025 in the Mafeje Room, Bremner Building on lower campus.
01 Sep 2025
Media release
UCT to host symposium on role of microbiomes in health and disease in Africa
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) will host a two-day African Microbiomes in Health and Disease Symposium from Tuesday, 1 October to Wednesday, 2 October 2024.
30 Sep 2024
Media release
Renowned Professor Plaatjies to host final concert at UCT in aid of student funding
A benefit concert, headlined by the renowned Professor Dizu Plaatjies on Thursday, 3 October 2024, will kick off a season of celebration and fundraising at the University of Cape Town (UCT) as part of the UCT Day 2024 season.
30 Sep 2024
Media release
Rising malaria resistance a growing threat - warns UCT professor in his inaugural lecture
Although malaria mortality rates have decreased over the years, the problem still lies with rising resistance, according to Professor Gregory Smith , a professor of inorganic chemistry in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Cape Town (UCT). He recently delivered his inaugural lecture to mark his promotion to full professorship, the highest academic rank.
25 Sep 2024
Media release
UCT research delves into the experiences of ‘bully-victims’
According to a new study by Dr Nombulelo Jokazi, a PhD graduate from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Commerce , socially integrated mobile bully-victims possess complex characteristics. Her thesis is titled “Identifying the characteristics of socially integrated mobile bully-victims using a mobile application”.
23 Sep 2024
Media release
Researchers decode oldest DNA from South Africa to date
A team of researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany has analysed human remains from the Oakhurst rock shelter in southernmost Africa and reconstructed the genomes of 13 individuals, who died between 1 300 and 10 000 years ago, including the oldest human genome from South Africa to date.
22 Sep 2024
Media release
Global mpox authority Professor Nachega to deliver keynote address at UCT conference
Clinician-scientist and University of Cape Town (UCT) alumnus, Professor Jean Nachega, will deliver a highly anticipated keynote address at the World Congress of Epidemiology (WCE2024) to be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Tuesday, 24 September 2024.
20 Sep 2024
Media release
Many SA’s agro-food companies are not prepared for long-term impacts of climate change
With Africa being highly vulnerable to climatic shocks, research by the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) master’s graduate Koaile Monaheng has shed light on how South Africa’s agro-food sector — a crucial yet often overlooked industry — faces significant risks and impacts from climate change.
18 Sep 2024
Media release