What UCT's signs, symbols and signatures say – join the discussion

Have you ever wondered why the Hoerikwaggo Building is so named, or what it means?

Or why the statue of Cecil John Rhodes stands at the foot of Africa's leading university?

Should we expunge campus's historic symbols of Eurocentrism, colonialism and imperialism, or keep them, lest we forget, for our children's children's children's sake?

These are the kinds of questions UCT will be tackling in a new series of discussions, under the banner of transformation, starting on Monday 16 March from 16h00 to 18h00 in Kramer LT2, and continuing throughout the year.

And as a member of the university community, you're invited.

Each event will focus on a single issue in a discussion that will be led by invited speakers. Members of the audience (that's you) will also have an opportunity to express their opinions – and ask others about theirs.

The topic of the first discussion on 16 March will be heritage, signage and symbolism. As deputy vice-chancellor Professor Crain Soudien noted, debate is vital to how UCT is managing the challenge of transformation.

"We hope these meetings will help identify ways that we might move forward," he said in a message to the campus community.

(And by the way, Hoerikwaggo means "Mountain of the Sea". After a Council decision, the old Chemical Engineering Building was renamed in 2005 when the chemical engineering department moved to a new home and Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) moved in.)

Photo by Michael Hammond