Celebrating excellence at the March 2024 graduation

Dear colleagues and students

It is with great pride that I announce the commencement of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) March 2024 graduation ceremonies, which got underway on Saturday, 23 March and will continue until Thursday, 28 March 2024. These ceremonies mark a significant milestone in the academic journey of our graduating students.

I am pleased to share that we will honour approximately 4 850 graduands at these ceremonies to be held over five days. This includes the award of 26 PhD degrees.

I am also thrilled to announce that, during the March graduation ceremonies, we will confer honorary doctorates on four distinguished individuals who have made exceptional contributions to their respective fields. The honorary graduands are:

• Ms Shirley Gunn, who will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc) (honoris causa) on Monday, 25 March at 14:00
• Professor Brian John Huntley, who will receive the degree of Doctor of Science (honoris causa) on Tuesday, 26 March at 14:00
• Mr Lionel Basil Davis, who will be awarded the degree of Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc) (honoris causa) on Wednesday, 27 March at 10:00
• Professor Lehlohonolo Burns Banda Jiyane Machobane, who will receive the degree of Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc) (honoris causa) on Thursday, 28 March at 10:00.

Each ceremony symbolises the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and perseverance.

• See the full schedule of March graduation ceremonies.

The ceremonies will be live-streamed on the UCT graduation feature page and the university’s social media platforms: Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Recordings of the ceremonies will be made available at a later stage on the UCT YouTube channel as well as on the graduation feature page.

To all our graduands, I extend my heartfelt congratulations on reaching this significant milestone. Your commitment to academic excellence and personal growth has been exemplary, and your achievements are a testament to your hard work and determination.

Graduation is a time not only of personal celebration, but also one of reflection on the transformative power of education. Your qualification from UCT is a testament to your intellectual capabilities and will serve as a valuable asset in your professional career. As graduates of a premier university in Africa and the world, you have received a high-quality education that equips you to make meaningful contributions to society.

I urge you to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead and to use your knowledge and skills to effect positive change in the world. Your success is a source of pride for yourselves, your families, our university, and the broader community.

Thank you for choosing the UCT as your academic home. Your presence has enriched our campus community, and your achievements have contributed to our university’s legacy of excellence.

Once again, congratulations to all our graduates! We look forward to celebrating your accomplishments during the March 2024 graduation ceremonies.

Sincerely

Emer Prof Daya Reddy
Vice-Chancellor interim

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements