In remembrance: Nontle Solwandle

Dear colleagues and students

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our colleague Ms Nontle Solwandle (40), who served as administrative officer in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor (OVC). She passed away on Wednesday, 13 December 2023 in a tragic car accident that also took the lives of her husband Mr Luvuso Solwandle and two children, Imiso and Imitha.

Ms Solwandle joined the University of Cape Town (UCT) in May 2022. Colleagues in the OVC remember her for her very pleasant personality and for how her arrival in the administrative hub of the OVC was very impactful. She was very easy to interact with and there was no task too complicated for her. Always willing to assist in all the sections of the office, she has been described as a joyful character, and a vivid light who brought warmth in the OVC. Her wonderful, warm and probing sense of humour brought people together across the team.

She had a gift of innovative thinking, a visionary spirit, unwavering patience, selfless generosity, uncompromising belief in all that is good, unwavering commitment to her work, and always found time for her colleagues. Ms Solwandle exemplified life, love, laughter, and an irrepressible belief and faith in seeing the best in everything. She was professional and responsive to the myriad of complex issues dealt with in the OVC.

Ms Solwandle is survived by her biological mother, Mrs Ngesi, mother-in-law Mrs Solwandle, and her extended family members. She was buried – along with her husband and her two children – on Friday, 29 December 2023, at KwaHandasi Location in Qonce, Eastern Cape.

The university has reached out to offer support to the Solwandle family and our sincere condolences go out to them and all who knew and loved her during this time of bereavement.

The UCT Executive

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