UCT honours four outstanding individuals with honorary doctorates

Dear colleagues and students

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has proudly conferred honorary doctorates on four outstanding individuals during the spring graduation ceremonies held from 8–10 September 2025.

Mr Shuaib Chalklen, Dr Mohammed D’Arcy, Dr Sindiwe Magona and Ms Luli Callinicos were honoured for their contributions to scholarship, social justice and human dignity.

At UCT, honorary doctorates are conferred on individuals who embody the values of excellence, leadership and service to society. They allow us to recognise academic distinction and how knowledge, activism and creativity can transform lives.

These awards enable the university community to pause and honour those who have left a lasting mark on South Africa and the world. As writer Chinua Achebe once said: “The story is our escort; without it, we are blind.” In honouring these recipients, we acknowledge the stories they have told, shaped and lived, stories that will guide generations to come.

Mr Shuaib Chalklen received the Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc) (honoris causa) on Tuesday, 9 September 2025. As a UCT alumnus, he has been a leading advocate for disability rights in South Africa, Africa and globally. His pioneering work as director of the Office on the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the Presidency led to policy reforms and the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Internationally, he served as United Nations (UN) special rapporteur on disability and later founded the African Disability Forum, where he continues to drive inclusive policy change. His career reflects a lifelong commitment to ensuring dignity and equity for persons with disabilities.

Dr Mohammed D’Arcy was awarded the Doctor of Medicine (DMed) (honoris causa) on Tuesday, 9 September 2025. Trained at UCT in the 1960s, his studies were shaped by apartheid-era discrimination. Despite barriers, he went on to practise medicine with compassion and distinction, serving disadvantaged communities in Cape Town for more than three decades. Beyond his medical practice, he nurtured future health professionals through teaching at the University of the Western Cape while contributing to South African arts and literature through writing and painting. His life’s work reflects resilience, service and an enduring commitment to knowledge and culture.

Dr Sindiwe Magona received the Doctor of Literature (DLitt) (honoris causa) on Wednesday, 10 September 2025. An acclaimed writer and activist, she has given voice to the struggles and triumphs of South Africans, especially women, through novels, plays, short stories and memoirs. Her works, including Beauty’s Gift and When the Village Sleeps, have sparked dialogue on issues such as HIV/AIDS, inequality and culture. In addition to her literary achievements, Dr Magona served for two decades at the UN, where she worked on social development and human rights. Her words and advocacy continue to inspire new generations to pursue justice and dignity.

Ms Luli Callinicos was bestowed with the Doctor of Social Science (DSocSc) (honoris causa) on Wednesday, 10 September 2025. A social historian, activist and educator, she has dedicated her career to documenting the lives of ordinary South Africans. Her scholarship, shaped by her work with the History Workshop at Wits University, focused on “history from below” and gave prominence to the experiences of workers and marginalised communities. Through publications such as Oliver Tambo: Beyond the Engeli Mountains and her role in founding the Workers’ Library and Museum, she has preserved South Africa’s liberation history for generations to come.

On behalf of our university, I congratulate our honorary graduates. Their lives and contributions remind us that knowledge is not limited to lecture halls or laboratories, but is also found in activism, community service, storytelling and cultural preservation. Their recognition is a reminder of UCT’s commitment to honouring those who advance justice, knowledge and humanity.

Sincerely

Professor Mosa Moshabela
Vice-Chancellor

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