Farewell to the Registrar: Mr Royston Pillay

Dear members of the UCT community

It is with a profound sense of gratitude and admiration that I write to pay tribute to our esteemed registrar, Mr Royston Pillay, who will take early retirement at the end of December 2024. This will mark the conclusion of an extraordinary 27 years of outstanding dedication and service to the University of Cape Town (UCT). His tenure has been marked by significant contributions to the institution, and he leaves behind a legacy of commitment and excellence.

Mr Pillay’s tenure at UCT has been nothing short of transformative. He was appointed as the university registrar on 1 January 2016. Prior to this appointment, he began his career at UCT as the head of the student affairs secretariat, where he served as a link between student leadership and university management. Following this role, he transitioned to faculty administration and became the first faculty manager for the Faculty of Humanities in 1999, where he was responsible for academic administration.

Two years later, Mr Pillay became the director of student admissions and worked closely with the registrar’s office. He held this position until 2004 when he transitioned to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor (OVC) to serve as its director.

As registrar, Mr Pillay plays an integral part in the governance and academic framework of UCT. He is secretary to Council, Senate and Convocation, which are key structures of the university. He is tasked with the enormous responsibility of ensuring that these critical governance bodies function smoothly by – among others – attending to agendas, records and decisions that set the strategic and academic directions of the institution. He holds overarching responsibility for managing the university’s legal affairs and provides strategic support to executive officers, deans and department heads across a broad spectrum of internal structures and functions. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr Pillay has been a mentor, advisor and steadfast supporter of the university’s mission. His leadership has shaped many aspects of our institution, leaving a lasting legacy of commitment and excellence that will resonate for years to come.

It is impossible to compress into a few paragraphs all of the highlights of Mr Pillay’s tenure at UCT, however below I attempt to. These included:

• establishing a seamless and efficient online registration process through the Project Harambee
• overseeing 145 graduation ceremonies, celebrating the achievements of over 60 000 graduates – the university hosted an increased number of graduation ceremonies in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023, reflecting its growing commitment to celebrating the achievements of the graduates
• ensuring safe graduation ceremonies during the COVID-19 pandemic by implementing a hybrid approach to graduation ceremonies – including a virtual celebration and an outdoor walk of celebration outside Sarah Baartman Hall – this carefully designed plan ensured that graduates could celebrate their achievements while prioritising health and safety
• providing support across three Council terms: 2016–2020, 2020–2024, and the current Council term (to end in 2028)
• transforming the rugby fields on upper campus to ensure that students could write their exams in a safe and peaceful atmosphere amid protests in November 2017.

As we bid farewell to Mr Pillay at the end of this year, we do so with immense respect and heartfelt appreciation for all he has contributed to UCT. His presence will be greatly missed, but his impact will endure in the fabric of our university.

In the words of Desmond Tutu: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” Mr Pillay’s many “little bits of good” have indeed overwhelmed UCT in the most profound way. We thank him for his unwavering service and leadership.

He may not always be in the spotlight, but Mr Pillay’s work has been absolutely central to the smooth running of this university. He has been the backbone of our administration, ensuring that everything – from student records to exam schedules, to vital regulatory compliance – has been executed with efficiency and diligence. His quiet but steady leadership has made a huge difference to the student experience, ensuring that the administrative processes that often go unnoticed are handled as smoothly as possible.

It’s no exaggeration to say that without Mr Pillay, some of the things we take for granted in our day-to-day operations simply wouldn’t be possible. He has been a constant, dependable presence; and his contributions to the university community cannot be overstated.

On behalf of the UCT executive, I would like to express our deep gratitude to Mr Pillay for his sterling leadership throughout his tenure at UCT. His calm stewardship and dedication to the university’s interests at all times, including times that have been particularly difficult and troubled, have been very important in preserving the values and mission of the university.

Sincerely

Professor Mosa Moshabela
Vice-Chancellor

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements