Graduation 2025
UCT honours four trailblazers at Spring graduation
15 September 2025 | Story Myolisi Gophe. Photos Robin Thuynsma. Read time 3 min.
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) spring graduation was special in various ways. One of these special moments included awarding honorary doctorates to four distinguished individuals.
The university awards honorary doctorates (honoris causa) across a multitude of fields in recognition of exceptional work that has made a meaningful contribution to society. In this graduation, the four recipients were from the fields of health sciences and humanities.
A voice for the people’s history
Luli Callinicos is a renowned South African social historian, activist, and author whose work has focused on documenting the lives and struggles of ordinary people. She was awarded the Doctor of Literature degree. A University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) graduate (BA, 1964), she forwent postgraduate study to dedicate herself to social history, education, and the anti-apartheid movement. A founding member of the Wits History Workshop, she pioneered “history from below”, making history accessible to marginalised communities. She developed alternative curricula, co-founded the Workers’ Library and Museum, and authored influential works, including Oliver Tambo: Beyond the Engeli Mountains. Her contributions to scholarship, cultural preservation, and social justice remain widely respected and impactful in empowering marginalised communities through education. Her lifetime of achievements embodies the values that UCT strives to uphold.
Healing, teaching, and creating
Dr Mohammed Cassiem D’Arcy, a pioneering medical doctor, pathologist, educator, and cultural contributor, was honoured with a Doctor of Medicine degree (honoris causa). Among the few coloured UCT medical graduates of the 1960s, he trained in North America under leading experts, conducting influential research in electron microscopy and neuropathology. Denied academic posts on his return under apartheid, he dedicated 30 years to providing world-class medical care to disadvantaged Cape Town communities, later teaching pathology at the University of the Western Cape. Beyond medicine, he was a prolific writer, columnist, and visual artist, enriching South African arts and heritage. His lifelong service embodies resilience, excellence, and social impact.
Championing disability rights
Shuaib Chalklen, a distinguished UCT alumnus and disability rights activist, was honoured with the Doctor of Social Science degree (honoris causa). Beginning his career with Disabled People South Africa, he advanced economic empowerment for persons with disabilities. He later became the director of the Office on the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency, shaping national policy and contributing to the development of the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Internationally, he served as United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Disability (2009–2014), championing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and founded the African Disability Forum. His leadership, advocacy, and lived experience have transformed disability inclusion locally, continentally, and globally.
Storyteller of justice and resilience
Dr Sindiwe Magona, who could not attend the graduation ceremony, was awarded the Doctor of Literature degree (honoris causa). She is an acclaimed author, activist, and advocate for social justice. Born in the Eastern Cape, she rose from humble beginnings to become a leading literary voice, with more than 100 works – spanning novels, memoirs, short stories, and plays. Her writing powerfully explores apartheid, gender inequality, HIV/AIDS, and cultural heritage, blending personal narrative with broader social critique. A former UN official, she has championed women’s and children’s rights while preserving South African traditions through her storytelling. Her resilience, global influence, and lifelong commitment to justice embody UCT’s Vision 2030 strategy and inspire future generations.
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Spring 2025 Graduation
The University of Cape Town (UCT) hosted graduation ceremonies from Monday, 8 September until Wednesday, 10 September 2025. The ceremonies were livestreamed on the website and UCT’s Facebook page (recommended for mobile devices like cell phones and tablets), and the video recordings will be available on this feature page and UCT’s YouTube channel as soon as possible after the event.
Graduation news
Graduation news
Inspirational graduates
Our stories: inspirational graduates
The UCT News team has profiled a cross-section of inspirational graduands whose stories have inspired us. To all those we haven’t been able to feature, we’d like to say: each one of you is an inspiration – to your university, your families and your communities. We wish you every success in the future.
Ceremony recordings
Ceremony recordings
Graduation programmes
The names of all of the spring 2025 qualifiers are listed in the graduation ceremony programmes. Congratulations to everyone who has graduated.
We are excited to see our UCT graduates unleash their potential for a fair and just society. Thank you for joining the celebrations on social media by using the #UCTGrad2025 hashtag.
Social media elements#UCTGrad2025 – social media elements
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