The resilient spirit of a woman

On 13 December 2018, a message was delivered to the University of Cape Town (UCT) community. Part of the communication read, “Council made the historic decision to rename Memorial Hall after Khoi heroine Sarah Baartman.” The name replaced Jameson Memorial Hall, a long-standing designation.

The correspondence was signed by then Chair of Council Sipho Pityana and then Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng. The plan was for the official renaming ceremony to happen sometime in 2019, but one thing led to another – including COVID-19 – and it was delayed.

Although the name “Sarah Baartman Hall” has illuminated the edifice for several years, a ceremony to formally recognise the change was being planned. That plan was executed on 10 September 2025. During the last spring graduation where a cohort of humanities students graduated, the formalities were realised. A special colloquium will also be held on the evening of 11 September.

Sarah Baartman, a South African heroine, suffered grave injustices when she was enslaved and then paraded as a “freak of nature” in 19th-century Europe, where she later died. In 2002, her remains were returned to South Africa.

“Through this moment, we honour one of the heroines whose life and legacy remind us of the importance of dignity, justice and recognition”, said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) for Transformation, Social Responsiveness and Student Affairs Professor Elelwani Ramugondo. 

Professor Ramugondo’s brief remarks were followed by her inviting Chancellor Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe to address the ceremony, which included Her Excellency ǂXuu Katrina Esau, a recipient of an honorary doctorate from UCT in 2023. Former vice-chancellor Professor Njabulo Ndebele as well as former DVC for Transformation, Professor Loretta Feris, who drove the renaming process, were also in attendance.

“We thank the Council and leadership of 2018 for their foresight and conviction. Their decision was part of UCT’s ongoing commitment to transformation and reimagining our spaces and histories,” said Dr Moloi-Motsepe. “The renaming of UCT’s most iconic hall marks a powerful shift in how we remember, how we belong, and how we honour those whose stories have not been told. Sarah Baartman’s life is profound and painful, and yet it is powerful in its truth.”

“As students, families and communities, we gather here under a name that speaks to justice, dignity and the resilient spirit of a woman.”

Dr Moloi-Motsepe continued: “Even in death, she was denied dignity, with her remains placed on display in museums for nearly two centuries outside of her home. Naming our central hall after Sarah Baartman signifies our commitment to justice, remembrance and redress.”

The process of getting to where we are now has been long, but straightforward. In 2016 UCT invited students, staff and alumni to suggest possible names for the hall. In June 2016, Council passed a resolution to rename the hall, and in October 2017 Council agreed to call it Memorial Hall in the interim. Meanwhile, the Naming of Buildings Committee (NOBC) – now known as the University Naming Committee (UNC) – had proposed Sarah Baartman as the new name and had initiated the appropriate procedures and consultations with members of UCT and the Khoi community.

By March 2018, a consultation process commenced with community, faith, political and cultural organisations, and led to the establishment of a core working group led by the Centre for African Studies that engaged in meaningful collaboration with the Khoi community as part of the renaming process. It ended in November 2018, with the official mandate granted for the renaming.

Protect her dignity

“The renaming is also a tribute to the Khoi and indigenous people of our nation and their heritage. For us, the Sarah Baartman Hall is more than a venue – it is a landmark of memory and transformation, reflecting our university’s values and aspirations. As students, families and communities, we gather here under a name that speaks to justice, dignity and the resilient spirit of a woman,” Moloi-Motsepe continued.

She noted that the renaming happens at a significant time in the calendar with graduation, looking back at Women’s Month and the celebration of Heritage Month in September. These are all significant. “This is not a symbolic gesture. It reflects our collective choices in shaping narratives and refusing to let the histories of marginalised communities be forgotten. The university aims to establish a community rooted in justice, memory and inclusivity, drawing strength from the legacy of a woman whose life was marked by injustice.”

After Baartman was brought home to South Africa, a traditional Khoisan ceremony was held on 9 August 2002. “We express gratitude to Sarah Baartman’s family for granting UCT the privilege of carrying her name in one of our most significant spaces. We hope that through this act, we keep her story alive, protect her dignity and transmit the significance of her life for future generations that will come,” concluded Moloi-Motsepe.