Art as protest and pedagogy: Holding a Thought, the puppetry of Ukwanda

In the 59th TB Davie Memorial Lecture, Assoc Prof Loretta J Ross urged a shift from outrage to radical empathy, offering her ‘Five Cs’ framework as a path to justice grounded in love, integrity, and growth.

Curators Professor Premesh Lalu and Dr Kurt Campbell unpack the thinking behind Holding a Thought – the puppetry of Ukwanda – an interdisciplinary exhibition on collaborative storytelling through puppetry, presented as part of the Michaelis School of Fine Art’s centenary series exploring art’s role in public life and transformation in higher education.

UCT and the FirstRand Foundation, alongside national partners, are driving disability inclusion in higher education through Access4ALL, a national initiative strengthening support for students with disabilities across South Africa.

UCT’s Molecular and Cell Biology Department welcomed 60 learners for three days of hands-on science, opening doors to discovery and inspiring the next generation of scientists.

The second Collective Conversation for A Just Society brought together health and wellbeing experts to explore how co-creation can build stronger, more equitable health-care systems for all South Africans.

On 23 June 2025, UCT astronomers and students celebrated the Rubin Observatory’s first light, launching a decade of groundbreaking cosmic exploration.

UCT-supported exhibition At Their Feet explores care as an artistic method, pairing contemporary artists in reflective dialogue on memory, motherhood and creative exchange.

UCT Radio is now fully digital – streaming campus voices, global perspectives and fresh content, wherever you are.

Ntokozo Makhaza, Ikeys top scorer and 2024 Player That Rocks, is now a Springbok camp pick and a standout rising rugby star.

UCT launches a dynamic Collective Conversations Series – a platform designed to foster collaboration between academia, policymakers and civil society.

UCT reflects on a decade since the fall of Cecil John Rhodes, marking a powerful moment in the history of student-led activism, decolonial thought, and transformation in higher education.

In a powerful moment of shared triumph, PhD graduate Rakiya Saidu and her daughter, Aisha Yahaya, graduated together during UCT’s autumn graduation season – a powerful journey shared across generations.