Spring 2025 graduation and other updates

Dear colleagues

The University of Cape Town (UCT) celebrated its students' hard work, dedication and sacrifices during the spring graduation from 8 to 10 September 2025. Read more about this and other recent developments on campus.

1. Celebrating excellence at the Spring 2025 graduation

UCT hosted its spring graduation ceremonies from 8 to 10 September 2025. Over three days and across eight ceremonies, the university conferred degrees on about 2 440 students. These ceremonies recognised the years of hard work, commitment and sacrifice that had brought students to this milestone.

• Read the VC Desk: Spring 2025 graduation season.
• Visit the graduation feature page.

As part of the ceremonies, UCT also honoured four individuals whose contributions had a lasting impact on their fields and on society. The university awarded honorary doctorates to Mr Shuaib Chalklen, Dr Mohammed D’Arcy, Dr Sindiwe Magona and Ms Luli Callinicos. Through their leadership, scholarship and creativity, these recipients advanced knowledge, promoted justice and inspired others to continue the work of building a more inclusive and equitable society.

• Read the VC Desk: UCT honours four outstanding individuals with honorary doctorates.

The spring graduations also marked an important moment in UCT’s history. On 10 September, during the final ceremony, the university formally commemorated the renaming of Sarah Baartman Hall. The renaming served as a powerful act of remembrance and recognition, acknowledging Sarah Baartman’s story as one of resilience and dignity. Taking place during Heritage Month and following Women’s Month, the dedication provided the university community with an opportunity to reflect on the values it upholds and the histories it chooses to honour.

• Read the VC Desk: UCT hosts official Sarah Baartman Hall renaming.

2. Reminder: Complete the 2025 staff inclusivity survey

The deadline to complete the 2025 Staff Inclusivity Survey has been extended to Friday, 19 September 2025. All staff are encouraged to participate in this confidential survey, which follows up on the groundbreaking 2019 baseline survey.

The survey, which began on 21 August, can be completed online through a personalised link emailed to each staff member, or on paper. It is available in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa.

• Watch: UCT Vice-Chancellor Professor Mosa Moshabela encourages staff to complete the inclusivity survey.
• Watch videos by members of the UCT Leadership Lekgotla.

This survey forms part of UCT’s ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive institutional culture. The first survey, conducted in 2019, provided UCT with essential baseline data on inclusion, belonging and workplace culture.

The second phase of the 2025 survey will take place from 6 to 31 October and will include voluntary interviews and focus groups to explore emerging themes in greater depth.

To find out more, please visit UCT’s Inclusivity Strategy page for full details of past and ongoing interventions, ethical clearance documentation and the survey’s FAQs.

• Read the full Campus Announcement: Reminder: Complete the 2025 staff inclusivity survey.

3. UCT Jazz Festival returns

The South African College of Music at UCT is again hosting the annual UCT Jazz Festival from 23 to 25 September 2025. The festival will showcase UCT’s talent.

The festival consists of evening concerts in the Baxter Concert Hall at 19:00 and a free lunch hour Library Desk concert at 13:00 in the WH Bell Music Library on 22, 23 and 25 September. Each evening concert offers a unique celebration of jazz artistry, approximately one hour in length.

On Tuesday, 23 September, the audience can enjoy the UCT Jazz Vocal Showcase. On Wednesday, 24 September, the UCT Big Band will present a Heritage Day celebration. The festival will conclude on Thursday, 25 September, with the UCT Creative Collab Project, featuring innovative original works by students from jazz and African sections.

• Make a booking.

4. Join SWS’s upcoming recovery walk

Student Wellness Service (SWS), within the Department of Student Affairs (DSA), invites students and staff to join the SWS Recovery Walk. The walk, hosted in partnership with Recovery Walk Cape Town, will take place on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 at 13:00. It will start and end at the Plaza on upper campus. It offers the campus community an opportunity to stand together in support of recovery while raising awareness about addiction and mental health.

The Recovery Walk is more than a campus activity. It is a visible act of solidarity, compassion and hope. Participants come together to:

• break the silence and stigma surrounding addiction, substance use challenges and mental illness.
• celebrate resilience and recovery, honouring the courage of those who continue to walk the path of healing.
• raise awareness and foster dialogue on the realities of mental health and substance use within the student community.
• promote inclusivity and hope, showing that recovery is possible and that no one should struggle alone.

Participants are encouraged to wear purple to show support for recovery and mental health awareness. This event is part of the lead up to the official Recovery Walk Cape Town in October.

For more information, please contact the SWS practice manager.

5. Update on closure of P7 and P8 parking areas

The UCT community is advised that the P7 and P8 parking areas will remain closed until further notice for commuter safety.

Since the last communication, detailed geotechnical investigations have been conducted to thoroughly assess the condition of the slope and retaining wall. These assessments are essential to determine the safest and most suitable method of rehabilitation for the affected areas.

The investigations' final results are expected by early October 2025. These will provide necessary clarity on whether parts of the P8 parking are safe to use during the construction and repair process or whether it must remain closed.

The UCT community is urged to respect all barriers and emergency tape and to avoid parking in the restricted areas. The safety of staff, students and visitors remains UCT’s highest priority.

Further updates will be shared with the campus community as new information becomes available.

6. UCT Shuttle service: relocation of Claremont stop

Please note that due to the commencement of construction of the new Claremont bus terminal along Claremont Boulevard, the UCT shuttle stop currently located on Central Road will be relocated to Newry Street.

A dedicated bus embayment has been provided for the UCT shuttle operations in Newry Street and the new stop is just one block away from the current location. Students can walk along Main Road and then up Newry Street to reach the shuttle.

Key details:

• Effective date: Monday, 29 September 2025
• New location: Newry Street (clearly marked with signage)
• Support: Shuttle staff will be on site to direct students during the transition.
• Timetable: The UCT shuttle will continue to operate as scheduled.
• Duration: The relocation will remain effective for the expected 23-month construction period.

For more information, please visit the route maps and timetables page on the UCT website, or consult the UCT Shuttle app (download on Google Play or App Store).

7. IBF accepting new expression of interest

The UCT Innovation Builder Fund (IBF) is now accepting new expressions of interest. Launched in 2019, the fund supports research projects that have shown proof of concept and are assessed as commercially viable, with intellectual property already protected or with protection potential. Grants ranging from R150 000 to R500 000 are available to help projects advance.

The IBF provides more than funding. It helps researchers mature their outputs, reduce risks and prepare for later-stage investment. Applications are invited from UCT researchers and postgraduates across all disciplines who are conducting innovative work with potential for commercial application and intellectual property (IP) protection.

To express your interest, fill out the Expression-of-Interest (EOI) template and send it to Fred Vanderpost. You may download the EOI form from the Research Contracts and Innovation’s website.

For more information about the IBF, please visit the fund’s page.

The deadline for submission is Wednesday, 15 October 2025.

Communication and Marketing Department

Read previous communications:

• From the UCT Executive
• Campus Announcements