‘Let ubuntu guide you’

“In your professional journey, as you move forward and venture into the world, let ubuntu guide your decisions and actions. As you build teams, build businesses and influence the economy, do so with a deep sense of responsibility to your community and the world,” University of Cape Town (UCT) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Mosa Moshabela told graduates at the Spring graduation.

The event kicked off with the Faculty of Commerce’s morning ceremony on Monday, 2 September – the first of seven ceremonies, which will be held until Wednesday, 4 September. Graduation is a highlight on UCT’s academic calendar, and the morning ceremony was a jubilant, memorable affair as excited graduands and their loved ones packed the Sarah Baartman Hall to mark the end of years of sacrifice and hard work and toast the start of new beginnings.

The occasion set the tone for what’s expected to be a bumper season. UCT will cap a total of 2 079 graduands. The largest cohort belongs to Commerce (733), followed by Humanities (353), Health Sciences (317), Engineering & the Built Environment (279), Science (246), and Law (151). So, if you’re making your way to campus during the next few days, expect to find a celebratory buzz as graduands, their families, friends and the academics who have contributed to their success bask in the celebrations. 

Make a positive impact

While presiding over his first graduation ceremony as VC of UCT, Professor Moshabela took a moment to congratulate the cohort on reaching this academic milestone. He also reminded them that despite many challenges, dedication, perseverance and hard work led them to graduation day.

As graduates prepare to step into the world of work, a world where success is measured by profits and numbers, Moshabela urged them to remember that true success lies in the positive impact they will have on other individuals’ lives.

“The mark of a great leader is not just in what you are going to achieve, but it will also be in how you uplift others along the way.”

“Your contribution to society is going to make all the difference. The concept of ubuntu, the belief that I am because we are, reminds us that individual well-being is deeply intertwined with the well-being of those around us,” he said. “The mark of a great leader is not just in what you are going to achieve, but it will also be in how you uplift others along the way.”

Build an equitable and just society

As UCT graduates, Moshabela said the cohort has the power to plant seeds that will sprout into opportunities and prosperity for future generations. And he encouraged them to use their knowledge to create wealth and to help build a more equitable and just society.

“You have a mammoth task ahead of you: to contribute to the economy, to innovate and to drive sustainable growth for our country, our continent and the world. Your insights and your expertise are needed now more than ever,” he said.

“Let your impact be felt across communities, industries and nations. The future is in your hands, and we have every confidence that you will rise to the occasion.

More reason to celebrate

During the Faculty of Health Sciences’ ceremony on Tuesday morning, UCT awarded an honorary doctorate to internationally acclaimed biostatistician and epidemiologist Professor Debbie Bradshaw. The university confers honorary doctorates on individuals who have excelled in their respective fields, and while doing so, have made a marked difference and contribution to the country, the continent and the world.

Professor Bradshaw is one of the country’s leading biostatisticians and epidemiologists and her contribution towards capacity building and developing the next generation of scientists in her field has been second to none. She has received a list of impressive awards, including the South African Medical Research Council’s highest accolade: the President’s Award for Exceptional Contributions to Medical Research.

Described as a champion of the people who speaks truth to power, Bradshaw has committed to improving the health and well-being of South Africans, including the most marginalised and vulnerable sector of society for almost half a century. In recognition of her service, she received a Doctor of Science (honoris causa) from UCT on Tuesday, 3 September.