Each year in March, South Africa commemorates Human Rights Day to honour those who lost their lives on 21 March 1960, while protesting against the apartheid pass laws – laws that fuelled segregation and restricted rights of Africans to move freely. It is these rights for access that scholars like Dean of Humanities Professor Shose Kessi continue to advocate for through their scholarship – scholarship that emphasises diversity and inclusion; and centres African knowledge as the gateway to academic excellence and innovation with a global impact – much aligned with the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Vision 2030 transformative agenda.

I would like to again thank the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Council for approving a joint proposal by the executive and the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) to alleviate financial strain on academically eligible and financially vulnerable students, thus ensuring a fair approach to 2024 fee debt challenges.

Today I write to you, members of the University of Cape Town (UCT) community, to thank you for warmly welcoming me as this university’s 11th Vice-Chancellor.

Min’emnandi kuthi. October, the month in which we mark and celebrate UCT's birthday, was another wonderful period of celebrations at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

As I reflect on September, I am filled with gratitude and pride for the vibrant activities that marked this month at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

Youth Month brings with it significant commemorations in South Africa.

In Africa, language, dance, and music are more than just artistic expressions – they are the heartbeat of our communities, embodying our cultural heritage and identity.

April 27, 1994, marked the dawn of a new era in South Africa, where all eligible South Africans were granted the invaluable right to vote.

March was an exciting month at the University of Cape Town (UCT) as we celebrated the graduation of our students and colleagues.

The 2024 academic year commenced with a number of accolades and grants for our academic colleagues.

With the year winding down, I thank each and every one of you for all your hard work during the year and wish you well over the holiday season.

November is one of the critical periods in the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) calendar and as our students sit for their year-end examinations, I’d like to reiterate the message I shared during Mental Health Awareness Month in October.

September was a good month for the University of Cape Town (UCT). Three UCT researchers received special recognition at the National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards, while six others were awarded A ratings.

Every year in August, the University of Cape Town (UCT) joins the rest of South Africa in celebration of women’s strides and commemorates the courage of over 20 000 women from diverse backgrounds who protested the apartheid regime’s pass laws in 1956.

Graduations are a highlight on the academic calendar and it was a delight to witness families beaming with pride as over 100 proud PhD graduates were capped in Sarah Baartman Hall on 21 July.

Youth Month always offers us an opportunity to reflect on the gains made since a fateful day in 1976 when young heroes and heroines challenged unjust education policies.

Africa Month in May marked six decades of the establishment of the African Union (AU) and this year’s theme was “Our Africa, Our Future”.

On 18 April, two years ago, tragedy struck the University of Cape Town (UCT) as a runaway wildfire swept through Table Mountain, devastating large parts of the campus, including the historic Jagger Library.

As a country we face many complex challenges, challenges we can only overcome as a unified community.

As a country we face many complex challenges, challenges we can only overcome as a unified community.

October is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health.

In South Africa, the month of September is dedicated to celebrating the country’s rich and diverse cultures that make it the “Rainbow Nation”.

August is a month in which we step back and reflect on the bravery of South African women.

Sounds of celebration reverberated in Sarah Baartman Hall for the PhD graduations.

As we commemorated Youth Month in June young people from the University of Cape Town (UCT) continued to fly the university and country’s flags high on the global stage.

On 25 May 1963 visionary African leaders took the first steps to encourage continental unity and freedom from oppression with the establishment of The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which was later renamed the African Union (AU).

The month of April for UCT will never be the same again.

The month of March is always a festive one for us at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

UCT VC Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng hosted the 5th annual Heads of Mission breakfast.

For 16 days between 25 November and 10 December annually South Africans are called to reflect on the scourge of violence against women and children and to intensify efforts to eradicate this monster plaguing our society.

October is a month dedicated to destigmatizing mental health and reducing discrimination against those suffering from various forms of mental health.

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is partnering with the Western Cape Department of Health to grant easy access to a world-class vaccination facility for our community and members of the public.

In August we celebrated Women’s Month, in commemoration of the thousands of womxn who marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 in protest against the extension of pass laws to womxn.

We are more than mid-way through 2021, and what a productive and momentous July we had.

In June the University of Cape Town (UCT), along with the rest of South Africa, commemorated Youth Month.

There is a Setswana proverb that goes Motho ke Motho ka batho. In isiZulu, it goes umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu.

The fires that started on Sunday, 18 April, made an indelible impression on our university.

Celebrated sisters and UCT alumni Zubeida and Zuleiga Jaffer reflect on the changes they’ve seen at the university over the years.

The University of Cape Town (UCT) hosted an online memorial service for former Vice-Chancellor Dr Stuart Saunders on 24 February. Dr Saunders was a dedicated servant, steward and supporter of UCT. He passed away on Friday morning, 12 February 2021.

A joint energy research project between the ACDI and the University of Exeter has won the Chair’s Prize at the international Newton Prize awards.

Amina Mohammed, the deputy secretary-general of the United Nations, delivered this year’s third UCT Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture.

COVID-19 and the rise of emergency remote teaching has profoundly affected the identity and roles of academics and catapulted UCT into the future.

Professor Elmi Muller wins the 2019 Alan Pifer Award

Women’s work, food and reproductive labour: a snapshot of gender equality research at UCT

Unleashing academic conferences: “We need to seize this opportunity”

‘COVID-19 will test our solidarity and commitment’

UCT Lockdown Letters: Share your stories

Centre has ‘Africanised’ neuroscience

UCT growing African innovators, building sustainability

UCT Annual Awards 2019

UCT Sutherland Reburial

UCT leaps up in world rankings

‘Something is deeply wrong with our society’

UCT shines on M&G’s list of trailblazers

UCT’s academic reputation best on the continent

All-women executive academic leadership for UCT

Graduation April 2019

Priceless climate-change data haul from Antarctica

Five winners of the Advancing womxn awards

VC’s first 100 days in office

Past errors help realign UCT’s future

Committed to healthy communities

VC launches substantial scholarships for women

UCT’s new Vice-Chancellor shares her welcome message

Gala farewell dinner for VC Dr Max Price

The value of storm water

Celebrating April graduations

The politics of water

Averting Day Zero

Student leaders celebrated

Can suburbia save the day?

Harvesting the storms

‘How do you drive the Mars rover?’

‘Let’s make UCT a pluriversal space’

The universe as never seen before

UCT a fortunate choice for Ghanaian scholar

Twinkle, twinkle little star

Science and medicine

UCT app to make every Drop Drop count

From hurt to hope

Science kits, womxn activists, student start-ups and more

There and back again

Grit, gratitude and graduation

Meet a new generation of UCT academics

Journeys through academia

Young people give me hope

All eyes on graduation

Transformation, fossils, lanterns and long-service awards

In praise of great teachers: Crain Soudien, Neville Alexander and Stella Clark awardees

Graduation, transformation, free speech and more

Unseating Rhodes? UCT launches MOOC, alumnus jumps for 100th birthday, and more…

Ebola: UCT researcher at the frontline

Chancellor and Chilean President speak out on gender violence

Celebrating 20 years of freedom