In remembrance
In remembrance: Associate Professor Eric Thulane Gxubane
03 March 2025Dear colleagues and students
We are deeply saddened to convey the news of the passing of our colleague, Associate Professor Eric Thulane Gxubane (56), on Tuesday, 25 February 2025 due to natural causes. He was based in the Faculty of Humanities.
Associate Professor Gxubane joined the Department of Social Work and Social Development at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2005, where he taught and supervised undergraduate and postgraduate students. He was one of the few scholars in the field of probation practice in South Africa and across the continent. His work and research significantly contributed to shaping policy and legislative frameworks in areas such as child and youth justice, restorative justice, youth diversion and youth sex offending.
During his tenure, Gxubane was actively involved in social responsiveness. He served as a member of several important initiatives, including the Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, the Diversion and Accreditation Ministerial Team for the Western Cape, and the Child Justice Alliance Group. At the time of his passing, he was working on a groundbreaking book about probation practice for the international publishing house Springer Nature.
Gxubane completed his Bachelor in Social Work at the University of the Witwatersrand and his Master of Social Sciences at UCT. He also completed his PhD at UCT, focusing on the use of residential diversion within a restorative justice framework for managing youth sex offenders in South Africa. Throughout his career, he has practiced social work in various settings, including the Witwatersrand Mental Health Society and Childline. However, he is best known for his work with youth in conflict with the law.
Colleagues who worked closely with Gxubane described him as a gentle, kind soul who was committed to the university and the field of criminal justice social work.
Gxubane is survived by his mother Maria; son Mpilo; sister Cecilia; and his extended family.
Details of the funeral and memorial service will be shared by the department as soon as the information is available.
The university has reached out to offer support to the Gxubane family, and our sincere condolences go out to them and all who knew and loved him during this time of bereavement.
Sincerely
The UCT Executive
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