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UCT law professor wins coveted Afrikaans literature prize Professor Jaco Barnard-Naude, director of research at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Law , was recently awarded the coveted Ingrid Jonker Literary Prize – widely considered the highest honour for debut Afrikaans poetry – for his poetry collection entitled 'Om my kastele in Spanje te sloop' (To demolish my castles in Spain). 28 Jan 2026 Media release
UCT academic joins calls for Africa-led health research and development The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Professor Jo-Ann Passmore is among 14 Calestous Juma Science Leadership Fellows from across the continent who have authored a commentary paper that outlines practical, Africa-led actions to strengthen health research and development (R&D) ecosystems in the context of rapidly shifting global health funding. 27 Jan 2026 Media release
TB harnesses part of immune defence system to cause infection, study finds Scientists from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) have contributed to an international study that shed new light on why humans and animals are so susceptible to contracting tuberculosis (TB) – and it involves the bacteria harnessing part of the immune system meant to protect against infection. 26 Jan 2026 Media release
Humans use local dialects to communicate with honeyguides, UCT research shows Researchers from the University of Cape Town (UCT), working with international collaborators, have shown that people in northern Mozambique use regionally distinct “dialects” when communicating with honeyguide birds, revealing a striking parallel to the way human languages diversify. 20 Jan 2026 Media release
UCT-led study uncovers fossil ecosystem that helped kick-start life after global catastrophe An international team of scientists from South Africa, Canada, France and the United Kingdom (UK) has uncovered fossil evidence of a tiny ecosystem that helped kick-start the recovery of Earth’s oceans after a global mass extinction. 19 Jan 2026 Media release
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