Three to receive UCT honorary degrees

UCT will be award honorary degrees to Advocate George Bizos, Dr Lillian Cingo and Dr Eric Goemaere this week.

Bizos will receive the degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD). He acted as an advocate in the 1950s for Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo's law firm, and had a part in all the major trials of the 50-year-long struggle against apartheid. He is credited with helping craft Mandela's impassioned plea to the court in the famous Rivonia Trial, said to have swayed the judge from passing the death sentence on Mandela.

Cingo will be presented with a Doctor of Social Science degree. Born in 1938, she is a dedicated health professional who has integrated her vocation in nursing with an ever-increasing focus on development among, especially, isolated communities.

Goemaere will receive a Doctor of Science (Med). Among his many achievements, Goemaere initiated the first comprehensive HIV treatment programme in the primary-care public health sector in Khayelitsha, funded by Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), through which he forged strong links with UCT.

Lord Leonard Wolfson received an honorary degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) at a special ceremony at South Africa House in London on 14 May. He is the founding trustee and current chairperson of the Wolfson Foundation, which has made major contributions to higher education and medical and scientific research in the UK, Israel and South Africa.

Honorary degrees will also be presented to Professor Jonathan Dorfan and Professor Claire Palley in December.

"These honorary recipients have and continue to contribute selflessly to the building of better societies in the social and economic areas, as well as areas of academia," said Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Njabulo S Ndebele. "With these awards, we not only recognise them but applaud them for their exemplary and sterling contributions."