The Bongani Mayosi Legacy project and other updates (student edition)

Dear students

This campus announcement aims to inform the University of Cape Town (UCT) community about recent developments on campus.

1. The Bongani Mayosi Legacy Projects

UCT is celebrating and honouring the legacy of the late Professor Bongani Mayosi through a collection of initiatives under the banner of the Bongani Mayosi Legacy Project. These include a library project, and a permanent exhibition of his work, to name a few.

In addition, the launch of the Legacy Project on 28 January, which would have been Professor Mayosi’s 53rd birthday, marked the first of UCT’s annual lectures in his honour as well as the renaming of the Health Sciences library to the Bongani Mayosi Health Sciences Library.

• Read about the Bongani Mayosi Legacy Project.

2. VC Desk: Financial aid

Providing funding assistance to financially stressed students who are academically eligible remains one of the key priorities for UCT. To this end, the university uses its own resources, as approved by Council, within budget constraints. Other key funders – including the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), National Research Foundation (NRF), postgraduate bursaries linked to research programmes, South African corporate entities, non-governmental organisations, foundations, donors, alumni and university staff – provide additional contributions to increase funding opportunities for our students.

• Read the VC’s message on student financial aid for 2020 and 2019 debt appeals.

3. Sutherland reburial process

UCT is continuing with engagements relating to the Sutherland reburial process. The latest activities took place in Sutherland from 24 to 26 January 2020 during a visit by a UCT delegation and the Northern Cape San leadership. These included a visit by the families and the San leadership to the cemetery where the remains were originally buried; and another presentation by UCT on the results of the scientific study conducted at the request of the families. Engagements relating to the Sutherland restoration process are scheduled to continue next month and no reburial date has been finalised at this stage.

4. Inclusive Practice Speaker Series

Western Cape universities are co-hosting an Inclusive Practice Speaker Series this year, with UCT hosting the first public seminar in the series at the Hoerikwaggo Lecture Theatre on 3 February at 14:30. The series will bring together practitioners, scholars and civil society organisations to share leading practice that is provoking new ways of doing and thinking about transformation.

• Read about the Inclusive Practice Speaker Series.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements