‘Lead with kindness, compassion, integrity and purpose’

“As you have now demonstrated, leadership is not just about holding a title or a position. It’s about inspiring others and making a positive impact in our community, in our society, in our country and the world.”

With these words Pura Mgolombane, the executive director for the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Department of Student Affairs (DSA), kicked off his welcome address during the annual Student Leadership Awards.

And UCT went all out to celebrate and honour a group of distinguished students in recognition of their invaluable contribution to the institution over the past year. The Student Leadership Awards, a highlight on the DSA’s annual calendar, was held in UCT’s Hasso Plattner School of Design Thinking Afrika (d-school Afrika) on Wednesday, 2 October. The event acknowledges individual students and student teams for their leadership contributions in respect of community, social justice, health and media.

And the d-school Afrika’s atrium was abuzz as thrilled students walked up to the stage to accept their awards as their peers cheered loudly. This year marks the event’s 21st anniversary and the event included musical and dancing performances by talented students like the Tsonga Society.

A leader’s traits

According to Mgolombane, becoming an astute leader is not linear. It requires taking initiative, showing resilience in the face of challenges and rallying others to work towards a shared vision. All nominees and awardees, he added, have exemplified these qualities in their own unique ways. And while they represent different facets of leadership, together they a create community that aptly enhances UCT’s Vision 2030.

“For you to be here, you have set a high standard for yourselves, and [you] have shown that leadership is not just about individual action but also about uplifting others.”

He reminded awardees and nominees that this was just the beginning of their careers as leaders. As they move into the world of work, he encouraged them to use the skills they’ve developed and honed at student leadership level to make a positive change in the world around them.

Mgolombane said as much as the world needs capable leaders who are problem-solvers, it also needs leaders who are compassionate and human centric and urged them to keep that top of mind.

“For you to be here, you have set a high standard for yourselves, and [you] have shown that leadership is not just about individual action but also about uplifting others. Your efforts have made a difference,” he said. “As you move forward, I urge you all to continue to pursue your passion, cultivate leadership skills and encourage others to do the same. But please, lead with kindness, compassion, integrity and purpose.”

Be curious, embrace challenges

Addressing colleagues and students at his first Student Leadership Awards ceremony, Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Mosa Moshabela said anyone who hopes to grow as a leader should understand the triumphant spirit of humanity. And as they develop in their respective fields, he instructed them to be curious, to ask questions, to embrace challenges and to come up with solutions to complex problems. In addition, he told the cohort not to miss out on opportunities to learn.

Like Mgolombane, Professor Moshabela also stressed the importance of developing compassionate, empathetic leaders and encouraged them not to lose sight of the true meaning of the spirit of ubuntu.

“One day most of you will have much bigger responsibilities. You will be leading big groups of people. You will be responsible for big companies, big organisations, big budgets. But the ethos of your leadership would have been formed at this stage by everything that you do every day as you grow holistically,” he said.

“Our differences don’t define us; our triumphant human spirt defines us. [Leading is] about compassion, it’s about humility, it’s about kindness. There’s only one value system that matters above all of others and that is ubuntu. Adopt ubuntu not just as a concept, but as a way of life – living it every day.”

2024 individual winners

• Blessing Gumbu
• Catherine Dunn
• Celeste Viljoen
• Callum Beukes
• Erin Coul
• Waheed Amanjee
• Zuko Bhana
• Rirhandzu Precious Mkhari 
• Ayooluwa Agboola
• Edith Mugadza

2024 team winners

• Surgical Society 
• South African Institute of Civil Engineers – UCT Chapter
• Health Sciences Students Council
• Law Students Council 
• A cohort of Civic Duty Unity – Constitutional Committee, Student Governance Court and Youth Advisory Panel
• Investment Society
• RainbowUCT
• Varsity News

2024 Kerry Capsick-Dale Leadership Award

• Catherine Dunn
• Naledi Mohale
• Ubuntu Hlatshwayo