Campus announcements
Inaugural lecture by Professor Paleker and other updates
02 May 2024Dear colleagues and students
The first of four lectures to be held in May 2024 as part of the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Inaugural Lecture series will be presented by Professor Mohamed Paleker on Tuesday, 7 May 2024. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.
1. Inaugural lecture by Professor Paleker
Professor Paleker’s lecture will start at 17:30 SAST in the Oliver Tambo Moot Court, Level 5, Kramer Law Building on middle campus. It will address the topic “The ‘One-Shotter’–‘Repeat-Player’ dichotomy in the South African civil justice system: Transformative steps to bridge the gap”.
The differentiation between one-shotters (OSs) and repeat players (RPs) in litigation is significant for several reasons. Firstly, it helps to identify the individuals or entities who approach courts and their motives for doing so. Secondly, it sheds light on the power imbalance between different litigants in litigation. Categorising litigants into OSs and RPs helps understand the reasons behind this disparity. This knowledge can aid in critically analysing the litigation system to ascertain its fairness. Thirdly, the OS-RP differentiation can help law reformers determine whether certain cases require specialised procedures or interventions to make litigation less complex and improve access to justice. This distinction provides a fresh perspective for evaluating South African civil procedure, its strengths, and weaknesses.
Professor Paleker worked as a researcher for the Constitutional Assembly before being admitted to the attorneys’ profession in 1997. He has been teaching at the UCT Faculty of Law since 2000 and has received numerous awards for his contributions to the teaching of law. He was appointed to the Small Claims Courts Task Team in 2005 and helped create over 200 small claims courts. He also served on the Rules Board for Courts of Law.
The other lecturers scheduled for May are to be delivered by Professors Lisa Seymour, Lesley Green and Horman Chitonge on 9, 14 and 22 May 2024, respectively.
2. UCT 10 km Memorial Run: honouring legends
The UCT Athletics Club invites staff and students to celebrate the spirit of endurance at the UCT 10 km Memorial Run, which will take place on Sunday, 5 May 2024 on middle campus (close to Kramer Law Building). This event pays tribute to three extraordinary UCT alumni women, who broke records in their careers before their untimely passing.
Members of the UCT community are urged to participate in this year’s race in honour of the three UCT legends – Isavel Roche-Kelly, Merrilyn Smith and Lindsay Weight.
From each race entry, R20 will go towards alleviating UCT student fee debt. Every stride can make a difference. Entry costs vary, starting from only R90.
Participants can enter through the following ways:
- online or through the racepass website
- at The Sweat Shop (cash only)
- at the UCT Sports Centre (09:00–14:00 on weekdays) or
- on the day (from 05:30) at the Kramer Building on UCT Middle Campus.
The three UCT running legends being honoured are:
Roche-Kelly, who was one of South Africa’s most talented distance runners, broke the SA Marathon record and was the first woman to run faster than seven hours at the Comrades Marathon. She also won the Cape Town Cycle Tour in 1984 in a record-breaking time. A champion in both running and cycling, she died tragically aged 25.
Smith pioneered the revival in women’s running at UCT with her positive energy and fine cross-country running in the late 1970s. She was an integral part of the winning teams at UCT during the 1980s, which included victory over Stellenbosch University in the 1981 Intervarsity Road Relay. Her life was tragically cut short at the age of 23.
Weight was one of three members of the UCT Athletics Club to have won the Comrades Marathon (in 1983 and 1984). She won the 1983 race, becoming the first woman to earn a Comrades gold medal. In total, she won 11 Comrades medals. Her sudden passing in 2006 came soon after completing the Puffer Ultra Trail Race.
3. UCT SRC to co-host political debate
The UCT Students’ Representative Council (SRC) will co-host a political debate featuring senior representatives from Action SA, ANC, Build One South Africa, DA, EFF, Good Party, and Rise Mzansi on Thursday, 9 May 2024.
This event will be co-hosted in collaboration with the UCT Student Parliament, Student Governance Court, Constitutional Committee, Department of Student Affairs, and UCT Youth Advisors (YA) to the Danish Embassy.
The debate will be a significant event in 2024 as South Africa marks three decades of democracy, celebrating the country's progress and commitment to inclusive governance. As the country celebrates this milestone, there are ongoing challenges of low youth engagement in civic and electoral politics. The UCT Student Governance Structures and the YA feel that it is crucial to cultivate a culture of debate and action among the youth and the broader South African community.
The following political party representatives have confirmed attendance:
- Angela Sobey – Action SA
- Baxolile Nodada – DA
- Brett Herron – Good Party
- Makashule Gana – Rise Mzansi
- Mmusi Maimane – BOSA
- Nonceba Mhlauli – ANC
The debate aims to enhance youth engagement with political leaders, encourage accountability, and spark a nationwide conversation on practical implications for the country's future.
Please contact Christine Immenga for more information.
4. Final timetable for mid-year exams published
The UCT Examinations Office has published the final timetable for the mid-year examination cycle. Students can view their timetable on the exams page.
Any requests for amendments must be sent to the Examinations Office, where further approval will be attained by the appropriate committee chairperson. UCT wishes students all the best ahead of the exams!
5. UCT’s autumn flash sale under way
The UCT Clearance Pop-Up Shop’s Autumn Flash Sale, offering incredible discounts of up to 50% off on selected items, remains under way.
Whether you are in need of UCT official merchandise, looking to upgrade your wardrobe, or searching for unique gifts, this is the perfect opportunity to grab some fantastic deals. From trendy apparel to stylish accessories and everything in between, there's something for everyone at the UCT Clearance Pop-Up Shop.
Visit the shop at the Steve Biko Students’ Union Building, Cissie Gool plaza on upper campus. Trading hours are from 10:00 to 15:00 weekdays, excluding public holidays. Prices are valid until 28 June 2024 or until stocks last. Payment can be done one via debit cards, credit cards or p-cards.
6. UCT Open Day to be held on 4 May
The annual UCT Open Day, aimed at high school learners in Grades 10, 11 and 12, their families and teachers, will take place from 10:00 to 15:00 on Saturday, 4 May 2024.
This event presents an ideal opportunity to explore the vast range of undergraduate study options that UCT offers.
Faculties, academic departments and support departments participate in this event, and activities include:
- lectures by academic members of staff from the various faculties
- information about financial assistance
- virtual residence tours and information about some of the facilities offered on campus
7. UCT Opera’s upcoming events
Opera UCT at the South African College of Music will present a number of interesting events in the next few weeks.
The first is the Distinguished Alumni Recital Series, with bass-baritone Musa Ngqungwana and pianist Jeremy Silver, on 9 May 2024. Ngqungwana will share with the crowd some of his favourite song repertoire, in the midst of a busy career at major European and American opera houses. The programme will include works by Roger Quilter, Johannes Brahms, Maurice Ravel, and Gerald Finzi. This recital will be preceded by the launch of Margaretha Deysel Stemmet’s book, South African Envoys of Opera from 17:30 to 18:30 in the Baxter Concert Hall. Entry to the book launch is free, with donations gratefully accepted.
The next event is Camagu (Be Honoured), to be held on 17 May 2024, in honour of Professor of African Music at the SA College of Music and one of South Africa’s leading traditional artists and cultural historians, Professor Dizu Plaatjies. He is the founder of the music group Ibuyambo and former leader of the globally celebrated traditional group, Amampondo, who recorded and toured locally and internationally in the 1980s and 90s. The son of a traditional healer, Plaatjies’s upbringing in Lusikisiki immersed him in Mpondo culture and traditions. His ability to revive, revamp and communicate old cultural practices has led to countless engagements locally and abroad. UCT Ibuyambo Orchestra will host “Camagu” to honour Plaatjies as he ends his tenure at UCT.
Join Opera UCT for the launch of two new books on 21 May 2024. Wayne Muller’s Opera in Cape Town: The Critic’s Voice traces the reception history of opera from the 1980s to the present and charts the development of a distinctly South African operatic aesthetic. Hilde Roos, Féroll-Jon Davids and Chris Walton’s book, titled Sorry. I am what I am, explores the life and letters of the South African pianist and opera coach Gordon Jephtas, an SACM alumnus who worked as an accompanist with the Eoan Group before moving to Europe and establishing an international reputation. Africa Melane will be in conversation with the authors, with Opera UCT vocal talent accompanied by Jeremy Silver.
Please contact Fiona Grayer for more information.
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