Celebrating excellence at the annual UCT Staff Awards

Dear colleagues

The University of Cape Town (UCT) Staff Awards are not only a much anticipated and significant annual entry on the institution’s calendar. These awards are a platform where we get together in a celebratory and jovial mood to acknowledge the efforts and hard work by all of you – the valued staff at our university.

It therefore was a great pleasure for me to be part of an event that celebrated our greatest asset at UCT, our people, at the UCT Staff Awards held on Wednesday, 27 November 2024. We gathered at Baxter Theatre not only to honour your remarkable achievements but to recognise the power of unity and the importance of working together.

At UCT, we are more than an academic institution – we are a community rooted in the African philosophy of ubuntu - I am because you are. This profound idea speaks to our interdependence, and to the understanding that our success is not individual but shared. When one of us thrives, we all do. When challenges arise, we face them together.

The UCT Staff Awards are a testament to that spirit. Both the academic and the Professional, Administrative and Support Service (PASS) colleagues came under one roof, having worked hand in hand throughout the year, and the evening was a reflection of those collective efforts. Nearly 400 guests attended, making it a true celebration of excellence.

We witnessed unforgettable moments: including two recipients with 45 years of service receiving standing ovations, and three with 35 years of service inspiring admiration.

By celebrating you at the UCT Staff Awards, we intend doing more than handing out accolades. Beyond that, we hope to affirm your extraordinary contributions and inspire a culture of continued excellence. As Albert Einstein wisely said, “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value”. Through these awards, we celebrated not only your success but also the immense value you bring to this university.

Recognition is more than a formality. It fuels us to aim higher and reminds us of our capability to elevate UCT as a beacon of knowledge and innovation.

What sets UCT apart is our ability to come together, harness the strength of our diversity, and work towards a common vision. Each of you plays a vital role – whether breaking new ground in research, ensuring campus operations run smoothly or steering us into new frontiers.

When we pause to reflect on our achievements, we plant seeds for future success. Recognition can be a catalyst. It inspires us to innovate and make UCT a source of pride for ourselves, our nation, continent and the world.

Let’s continue embodying ubuntu in our work, building on our shared successes and ensuring that UCT shines as a global leader in higher education. This is our challenge and opportunity. Together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.

Thank you to all the departments that were part of organising such a successful event. Thank you, too, to each of you for your dedication, passion and belief in the transformative power of education. UCT’s greatness is not defined by its buildings, rankings or history; it is defined by its people – by you.

Congratulations to all the award recipients, and thank you for making UCT the extraordinary institution it is. Let’s keep working together to reach even greater heights.

• Visit the UCT Staff Awards feature page to read about the award recipients and more.

Sincerely

Professor Mosa Moshabela
Vice-Chancellor

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements