Dear colleagues and students
It is with profound grief that we inform you of the passing of our student, Mr Ricardo José Guta (31), on 1 December 2022 following a tragic swimming accident.
Mr Guta completed an MSc in Conservation Biology and would have graduated this week. He was about to register for a PhD at the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology.
Described as a much-loved member of the 2021/22 cohort of the conservation biology MSc programme, he had a warm personality, infectious humour, and deep knowledge and passion for entomology. He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him for his kindness and generosity, meticulous research, and the enormous potential he showed as a conservation biologist.
He is survived by his wife Lailat, daughter Adrielle, and son Piotr.
A memorial service to celebrate his life was held on Friday, 9 December 2022 on upper campus.
He will be laid to rest in Beira, Mozambique. His family was yet to finalise funeral arrangements.
The university has reached out to offer support to the Guta family, and our heartfelt condolences go out to them and all who knew our late student.
Sincerely
The UCT Executive
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