The University of Cape Town (UCT) will commemorate the fifth anniversary of a devastating fire that impacted the Jagger Libraries and several other campus buildings on 18 April 2021.

That day stands as a painful reminder of the scale of destruction to both the hub of academic life on campus and to a repository of rare archival material housed at UCT.

Five years on, a commemorative exhibition programme titled “Opportunity in Loss” offers a different perspective – a future-orientated narrative highlighting possibility.

According to UCT Libraries Executive Director, Ujala Satgoor, the theme does not diminish the losses sustained or the trauma experienced, but rather brings into focus an opportunity to reimagine the Libraries at UCT.

This includes restoring physical spaces with a more modern and sustainable design aesthetic; leveraging current technology to expand digital access to collections; deepening community engagement; and creating a more inclusive learning environment for students and staff.

“The commemoration marks a transition from remembrance to action, offering an opportunity to reflect on the losses endured, honour the collective efforts in response to the disaster, and look forward to rebuilding the Jagger Library and renewing our commitment to African scholarship,” said Satgoor.

A special event was held on the evening of Friday, 17 April for previous funders, donors and volunteers, providing a preview of the display.

“The symbolic floodlighting of the library symbolises the devastation caused by the fire, the resilience of the UCT community, the enduring flame of knowledge and the transformation of the site from one of loss into a beacon of renewal and hope. As the Jagger Library is illuminated, it will stand as a symbol of memory, resilience and renewal,” said Satgoor.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 20 April to 15 May 2026, enabling broader access for students, schools and local communities. Two guided tours will be conducted on each weekday, with a maximum of 20 visitors per group. Bookings can be made online. The exhibition space will be closed on weekends and public holidays.

This commemoration is also an opportunity to acknowledge the support received from across society. It honours the firefighters who protected campus structures; academics from around the world who stood in solidarity with UCT; members of the UCT community and volunteers who helped salvage thousands of items; as well as alumni, sponsors and members of the public who contributed generously to recovery efforts.

©Higher Education Media Services.

“Now is the time for hope.”

These were the powerful words shared by Mr John Samuel, a distinguished leader in South African education, social justice, and public policy, during his conferral address at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

On Thursday, 16 April 2026, Mr Samuel was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Education, recognising his five-decade career dedicated to the principles of equity, access, and the liberation of the mind.

He thanked the University for the honour and congratulated the graduates, emphasising the historical struggle for equitable education and the legacy of the 1976 youth movement.

“The actions of this generation gave us hope and inspiration. This honour and acknowledgement remind me of the long and continuing contributions that so many people in this country made towards our struggle to build a just, equitable and democratic education system for all South Africans.”

“Now is the time for hope.”

These were the powerful words shared by Mr John Samuel, a distinguished leader in South African education, social justice, and public policy, during his conferral address at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).

On Thursday, 16 April 2026, Mr Samuel was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Faculty of Education, recognising his five-decade career dedicated to the principles of equity, access, and the liberation of the mind.

He thanked the University for the honour and congratulated the graduates, emphasising the historical struggle for equitable education and the legacy of the 1976 youth movement.

“The actions of this generation gave us hope and inspiration. This honour and acknowledgement remind me of the long and continuing contributions that so many people in this country made towards our struggle to build a just, equitable and democratic education system for all South Africans.”

He emphasised the importance of hope when faced with massive threats to humanity.

“This notion of hope is not some vague expectation that everything will come right sometime in the future. The hope we articulate, shape and develop in the cauldron of daily struggles globally for a better life gives us the opportunity to keep alive the belief that a better world can be built and that we have the capacity to do so. Hope allows us to explore and work towards other possibilities, equipped with the knowledge that the status quo can be changed.”

Samuel expressed his passionate belief in building a better world for future generations through science, technology and the voice of the people around the world.

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UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi reflected on the decades-long work of Mr Samuel.

“The education system that Mr Samuel helped build is the system that produced many of the graduates crossing our stage this season. The policy commitments to access and equity that he championed are the commitments that have allowed first-generation university students to stand in this hall and receive degrees from UJ.

“I have often spoken about knowledge in action. I believe deeply that universities are instruments of societal transformation. Mr Samuel is perhaps the finest example I know of that principle made tangible.”

Prof Mpedi concluded: “Life teaches us that unfinished work is cause for continued action and renewed commitment. You have demonstrated, across five decades and in every arena available to you, that education is not a privilege to be rationed but a right to be defended.”

©Higher Education Media Services.

For a quarter of a century, the University of the Free State (UFS) Faculty of Health Sciences’ undergraduate research module within the MBChB programme (often referred to as MSSM) has played a pivotal role in equipping undergraduate medical students with essential research skills, fostering a culture of inquiry, and strengthening evidence-based practice among future healthcare professionals.

In March this year, the faculty celebrated 25 years of the MSSM module, a programme credited with reshaping how future doctors are trained to think, question, and conduct evidence based work.

This module has become a defining feature of the MBChB curriculum, ensuring every medical student gains hands on experience in the full research process, from formulating a question to presenting findings under expert supervision.

A foundational shift in medical education

Established formally in 2001 by Prof Gina Joubert and Prof Hannes Steinberg, and built on earlier pioneering work by Prof Hennie Cronje, who introduced research into undergraduate training, the MSSM module evolved from a departmental initiative into a faculty-wide, structured research pathway for all MBChB students. Dr Roosmarie Bam was one of the original module team members.

“Today, MSSM guides students through the full research journey; from developing a research question to presenting and reporting their findings; under the supervision of clinicians and scientists across the faculty,” says Dr Chantelle van der Bijl, a co-leader of the module. Cornel van Rooyen is the other co-leader.

The module not only aligns with the university’s value of excellence which is the foundation of rigour in the institution’s scholarship, including the advancement, imparting and application of knowledge, but is also in line with its strategic focus that speaks to academic excellence and AI-Enhanced Research Impact.

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Honouring the founding visionaries

A highlight of this year’s milestone was the presence of the three founding members, who served together on the assessment panel during the anniversary presentations. Their participation underscored the enduring legacy and continued relevance of MSSM within the faculty.

A 25-year legacy of growth and impact

According to Van Rooyen, over the past 25 years, MSSM has delivered measurable and lasting impact with hundreds of student research projects completed, broad participation across multiple departments and disciplines, increasing publication and scholarly output, and generations of graduates equipped with research and critical thinking skills.

“Importantly, MSSM has remained dynamic, continuously evolving to meet the needs of students, supervisors, and the healthcare environment,” he says.

Leadership that ensured stability and progress

One of MSSM’s greatest strengths has been its consistent leadership, with only five leaders over 25 years:

• Prof Gina Joubert and Prof Hannes Steinberg, founding leaders

• Dr Riana van Zyl, who sustained and developed the programme further

• Cornel van Rooyen and Dr Chantelle van der Bijl, current co-leaders

This continuity has enabled stability, innovation, and continuous refinement of the module’s structure and delivery.

Looking ahead

The two day milestone event concluded with a celebratory lunch at Awela Restaurant on campus, where colleagues and contributors reflected on MSSM’s achievements and the collaborative effort behind its success.

As MSSM begins its next quarter-century, the faculty reaffirmed its commitment to producing reflective, research literate medical graduates – professionals who not only consume knowledge but help generate it.

The 25-year celebration stands as a powerful testament to what vision, dedication, and academic collaboration can achieve in advancing medical education.

Feature by André Damons first appeared on the University of Free State Website.

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Leah Mokgabudi and Ndumiso Mhlanga, Humanities graduates, overcame personal hardship, academic disruption and setbacks to achieve success, proving that resilience and determination can change futures.

Leah Mokgabudi overcame many challenges, including pandemic disruptions and visual impairment, to earn her Advanced Diploma in Public Affairs, demonstrating that determination and support can drive success.

Having grown up in Tembisa, she began her academic journey at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Faculty of Humanities in 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her studies and delayed her progress, making it impossible to complete her qualification within the expected timeframe. Despite this, Mokgabudi remained focused and adapted to online and face-to-face learning to complete her diploma in 2024.

She advanced her studies in 2025 by enrolling in an Advanced Diploma in Public Affairs, which she is now completing. Mokgabudi describes the experience as akin to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, a very demanding journey that culminated in fulfilment.

Throughout her studies, Mokgabudi faced uncertainty and emotional strain, but credits her success to perseverance and support from family, friends and fellow students. As a visually impaired student, she had to work harder to meet academic expectations and remained committed to her goals.

She also recognised the role of Public Management lecturers in ensuring that her study material, assignments and examination papers reached the Disability Unit on time. Their support made her academic journey much easier and more accessible.

Dr Caiphus Maleka, HoD of Public Management, said her achievement reflects independence, personal growth and perseverance. He added that despite the challenges of visual impairment, Mokgabudi met academic expectations through hard work and determination.

The department also highlighted collaboration between lecturers and the Disability Unit as key to her success and described her journey as an example of inclusive education.

Ndumiso Mhlanga, a postgraduate in Policing from the Department of Law, Safety and Security Management, completed his studies after a long and difficult journey marked by personal loss, financial challenges and academic setbacks.

He grew up in the Newcastle Osizweni township, with his mother’s family after losing his mother at a young age and without support from his father. He enrolled for a National Diploma in Policing at TUT in 2010 and initially received NSFAS funding but struggled to continue due to missing documents.

His academic journey included involvement in student politics and multiple suspensions, culminating in a disciplinary process and expulsion. He served part of the sentence and then returned to complete his outstanding modules and finish his diploma.

He continued his studies, enrolling for an Advanced Diploma, followed by a postgraduate qualification, which he recently completed. He is now pursuing a Master’s degree in Policing.

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According to Mhlanga, his journey taught him that challenges are part of life and require strength and determination. He encouraged other students to remain focused and approach difficulties with a winning mindset.

Mokgabudi and Mhlanga’s stories reflect the resilience of students who overcame adversity to achieve academic success. Their journeys show that determination, support and persistence can transform even the most difficult circumstances into achievement.

© Higher Education Media Services.

A moment of coming full circle. This is how Professor Njabulo Ndebele, the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) described the occasion yesterday.

Professor Ndebele, a prolific author and academic leader who has also served as Chancellor of the University for two terms, was honoured during a Faculty of Humanities graduation ceremony. He was recognised for his life’s work as a literary giant, acclaimed academic, and transformational leader in higher education and public life.

In his acceptance speech, the author of numerous culture defining texts such as Fools and Other Stories as well as The Cry of Winnie Mandela, masterfully weaved together the experiences of his life, and the moment he stood in the Sanlam Auditorium to receive an Honorary Doctorate.

For him, Prof Ndebele said, a poignant moment was a nod to his beginnings at the Western Native Township (near the now Sophiatown), a stone throw away from the University’s Auckland Park Kingsway campus where the ceremony was held. This, he shared, was a nostalgic return to where the story of his life first began.

“In case, some of you may be wondering why this man from Cape Town is so brazen as to climb onto the stage of the University (of Johannesburg), and then call himself a Joburger, it is because of where I was born. I was born not very far from here, some walking distance away from Sophiatown, a place known as Kofifi in its days,” he said.

These intimate yet intriguing musings gave the audience in the auditorium, filled with newly minted graduates, their loved ones and the University’s staff members an opportunity to peak into the mind of one of South Africa’s most respected public intellectuals.

He used his remarks as an opportunity to comment how the passage of time, and the deliberate actions towards the transformation of the country, have yielded a South Africa that is resilient, yet still optimistic about it’s future. Something Prof Ndebele remarked is starkly different from when he was born 77 years ago. A refreshing take, given the vast challenges that grip the consciousness of South Africans today.

“Today, I live and breathe in a country radically different in the general disposition of its people from what it was 77 years ago, when I was born,” he said. “One gets a very real sense, not only of the passage of time, but also of the fundamental transformation in the sensibilities of South African people, richly diverse, yet united in believing in the national and constitutional disposition that has knit us together, sharing together, a sense of a mutually reinforcing confidence in the purposeful and thriving unitary state we are today. I remain grateful to live in a country whose people, fellow citizens in their beautiful diversity, I love and always will.”

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In her role as functionary Vice-Chancellor for the ceremony, UJ Registrar Professor Bettine van Vuuren shared how transformative Prof Ndebele’s tenure as Chancellor was for the institution: “His association with the University of Johannesburg has been substantive and enlightening. Professor Ndebele served as Chancellor of UJ for two full terms, providing steady guidance and symbolic leadership during a critical period of growth and consolidation.

“His tenure contributed to embedding UJ’s vision of African excellence and inclusive scholarship within the broader national context. Professor Ndebele’s commitment to public service has been evident for all to see.”

Prof Van Vuuren conveyed the University’s gratitude, highlighting the institution’s pleasure at having a towering figure in its history, accept the honour.

“Professor Ndebele’s life and work reflect the values that the University of Johannesburg seeks to uphold academic excellence, visionary leadership, transformative public engagement, and a commitment to the development of African knowledge systems. Through his literary and scholarly contributions, he has deepened the world’s understanding of South African society. Through his leadership in higher education, he has played a vital role in shaping post-apartheid academic institutions and the creative contributions of the Humanities. Professor Ndebele, on behalf of the entire university community, we congratulate you and extend our deepest gratitude for your gracious acceptance of the honorary doctorate we are conferring upon you today,” she said.

Professor Ndebele closed off by expressing his gratitude to the University for the honour it has bestowed upon him; “The University of Johannesburg has honoured me in the most humbling manner. I am grateful to accept this honour,” he said.

He reinforced the importance of education, stating that this moment has strengthened in him a belief in the value of education.

© Higher Education Media Services.

Wits graduates have once again excelled in the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Initial Assessment of Competence.

This professional examination marks a critical milestone on the path to qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in South Africa.

Sanjika Gamlath Senarathne from the Wits Margo Steele School of Accountancy secured the number one position in the country and an Honours pass. Lungisa Makhosi also attained an Honours pass, further affirming the calibre of Wits graduates.

These successes affirm Wits’ commitment to academic excellence and long‑standing contribution to the transformation of the Chartered Accountancy profession. The School continues to play a leading role in developing a significant number of Black African Chartered Accountants while simultaneously delivering academic excellence.]

The School’s Thuthuka Education Upliftment Fund (TEUF) candidates secured an impressive 87% pass rate (compared to an average national pass rate of 80%) with Margo Steele Bursary candidates recorded an outstanding 90% pass rate. Overall, Wits attained a remarkable 88% pass rate, surpassing the national average of 65% by 23 percentage points.

“These achievements underscore the success of the University’s professional accountancy programme in delivering excellence whilst advancing diversity,” says Prof. Zubair Wadee, Head of the Margo Steele School of Accountancy at Wits University.

The following table highlights Wits’ exceptional performance compared to national averages as per SAICA’s press release:

Group Wits Pass Rate National Pass Rate

All candidates’ pass rate 88% 65%

All African candidates’ pass rate 86% 57%

All Coloured candidates’ pass rate 100% 65%

All Indian candidates’ pass rate 91% 60%

All White candidates’ pass rate 100% 83%

“These results are commendable given the socioeconomic challenges faced by students and broader challenges in higher education,” adds Wadee. “The Margo Steele School of Accountancy remains one of the university’s flagship institutions, driven by a steadfast commitment to both excellence and transformation.”

About the Wits Margo Steele School of Accountancy

The School distinguishes itself through cutting-edge research that informs teaching and ensures that Wits graduates are equipped to lead the South African economy into the next century. With a faculty actively engaged in both academia and the profession, Wits continues to set the benchmark for accountancy education in the country and to develop graduates equipped to lead the country’s economy into the future.

The story first appeared on the Wits University Website.

©Higher Education Media Services.

The spectre of “institutional capture”, where governance processes, decision-making and resource allocation are bent away from the public interest toward factional or private gain, has become a systemic risk.

Universities South Africa (USAf), which represents the country’s 26 public universities, is sounding the alarm and pushing for collective action.

Professor Francis Petersen, the chairperson, says governance cannot remain a campus-by-campus concern.

“Strengthening institutions is part of USAf’s role, including governance,” he says. “We also need to help council members understand the difference between governance and management and how to exercise effective oversight.”

The distinction is crucial. Councils should focus on policy, strategy, risk, performance oversight and the appointment and support of executive leadership. Management, by contrast, must handle day-to-day operations.

When the boundaries blur, universities become vulnerable to capture, whether through political interference, reputational attacks or opportunistic meddling in procurement and tenders.

A climate of pressure and misinformation

The risks are not abstract. Petersen points to sustained attacks on executive leadership, often emanating from the political sphere, including parliament’s portfolio committee on higher education.

“Oversight is legitimate but when it preempts due process or amplifies allegations prematurely, it damages universities,” he says.

In today’s climate, reputational risks are amplified by misinformation campaigns. Allegations circulate rapidly, coordinated narratives distort public perceptions and confidence in institutions erodes before internal processes conclude.

Petersen warns that governance depends on disciplined procedures — clear timelines, documented decisions and communication that balances transparency with fairness.

The weak induction of council members compounds the problem. Without proper training, even well-intentioned members can intervene inappropriately. In some cases, dishonesty within institutions escalates unchecked, weakening controls and corroding trust.

The University of Fort Hare and Mangosuthu University of Technology are among those

grappling with governance strain, underscoring the urgency of USAf’s intervention.

From webinar to reform

On 23 March, USAf hosted a governance webinar titled Institutional Governance: Confronting the Risks of Institutional Capture. Moderated by professor Dr Letticia Mmaseloadi Moja, the former council chair at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the closed session followed a December 2025 vice-chancellors’ retreat.

The webinar was not intended as a one-off conversation. Petersen insists its insights must be embedded in USAf programmes, particularly induction and continuing development for council members.

Practical content is key: clarifying fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, procurement boundaries, oversight of disciplinary processes and protocols for council management interaction.

Governance will remain on the agenda across USAf platforms, including the biannual

higher education conference in October. Public engagement is also essential, Petersen

says, so that good governance is visible, problems are addressed decisively and risks

are prevented where possible.

Shared guidance and peer support

Although USAf has not formally discussed shared frameworks, Petersen believes model

policies, induction checklists, conflict of interest guidance and clearer protocols for handling allegations against executives could help. Peer learning and rapid support mechanisms would allow institutions to respond consistently when early warning signs emerge.

Most councils, he stresses, serve with integrity. But continuous learning is vital

as risks evolve. Councils must protect their independence by managing conflicts of interest, keeping clear records and ensuring oversight is exercised through proper committees rather than informal influence.

The role of the department of higher education and training

Alignment between USAf councils and the department of higher education and training

is “immensely important”, Petersen says. Fragmented signals between councils, executives, USAf and the department create openings for external actors to exploit uncertainty.

Despite capacity challenges, Petersen sees the relationship with the department improving. “With the attitude of the new minister, the two deputy ministers and the officials, I’m very hopeful and positive that that is what we’re going to achieve from now onwards,” he notes. Constructive partnership is essential for universities to operate at their best.

What success looks like

For USAf, success over the next year would mean greater stability in the sector: fewer

prolonged leadership suspensions, fewer governance crises escalating into systemwide

distractions and more balanced engagement with universities.

Oversight should continue but less politically driven “attack” and greater reliance on evidence and due process are needed. Public discourse must also improve, with fewer misinformation-driven narratives and more confidence that universities can investigate, decide and communicate outcomes fairly.

Defending credibility

Ultimately, Petersen identifies credibility as the single most important governance principle to defend. “The integrity of the institution, managed in a transparent, open and honest way, is where we start to bring public trust back,” he says. Fraud, corruption, dishonesty and social issues such as gender-based violence all threaten credibility.

Restoring trust requires universities to articulate the value of higher education, defend its core values and build trust not only with the public but also with the government.

As Petersen prepares to take part in a global seminar on the democratic mission of universities, he underscores the broader stakes: higher education is expanding worldwide but costs remain high. Leaders must explain its value, articulate its values and defend trust.

A collective responsibility

Institutional capture is not a problem any single university can solve alone. It demands collective vigilance, shared learning and systemic reform. USAf’s intervention signals recognition that governance is the bedrock of credibility.

Without it, universities risk becoming pawns in factional battles, their public mission compromised.

For South Africa’s universities, the path forward is clear: sharpen governance, strengthen induction, embed ethical practices and defend credibility. Only then, he says, can higher education fulfil its democratic mission and retain the trust of the society it serves.

Council on Higher Education (CHE) chief executive officer, Dr Whitfield Green, has warned that only institutions participating in the Themed Review will be permitted to continue online and blended provision after 2026.

For nearly six years, South Africa’s higher education system has been navigating a profound transformation in how learning and teaching are delivered. What began as an emergency response has matured into a deliberate, quality-driven reform—guided by a series of CHE communiqués that steadily mapped the way forward.

Communiqué 5 of 2023 laid the groundwork. Communiqué 3 of 2024 extended the pathway. Communiqué 6 of 2025 sharpened the focus. Published on its Communiqué 2 of 2026, the CHE has taken it a step further.

“The Themed Review on Modes of Learning and Teaching Provision is underway,” Green formally notified the sector, confirming that the review is being conducted under the approved Higher Education Practice Standard (HEPS).

He said this review is not procedural housekeeping; it is the decisive quality assurance mechanism that will determine which institutions may continue to offer programmes in online and blended modes beyond the end of the concession period.

That deadline is immovable: 31 December 2026.

At the heart of the communiqué lies a simple truth: flexibility without quality assurance is not sustainable. Institutions that were accredited for contact or distance modes prior to 2020 have, for a limited time, been allowed to operate under a concession that enabled online and blended provision. That concession, Green stresses, was never open-ended.

“No further blanket extensions of the concession will be granted outside the framework of the Themed Review on Modes of Learning and Teaching Provision.” said Green.

This mark a turning point for the sector.

For institutions that chose to participate in the Themed Review, there is continuity and reassurance. Their concession remains in place until the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC) has evaluated their Self-Evaluation Reports and formally communicated a decision. Participation, in other words, keeps the door open.

But for those that elected not to participate, the story is starkly different.

By 31 December 2026, these institutions must revert fully to their originally accredited modes of provision. Any continued offering of programmes in a mode that was not accredited will constitute non-compliance—with consequences that may include the withdrawal of accreditation.

The communiqué leaves no room for ambiguity: institutions accredited for contact mode before 2020 that continue to offer online or blended programmes without participating in the themed review “will be in contravention of their accreditation conditions” once the concession expires.

Yet even at this late hour, the door has not completely closed.

In a final, deliberate act of regulatory fairness, the CHE extends one last opportunity. Institutions that have not yet opted into the themed review—but now recognise its significance—may still do so. The instruction is clear and urgent: they must notify Dr Crystal Jannecke, Director: Quality Reviews, no later than 30 April 2026.

This is not merely an administrative step. It is a declaration of intent: a commitment to quality, accountability, and the long-term credibility of higher education in South Africa.

As Dr Whitfield Green’s signature underscores, this communiqué is more than a notice—it is a line in the sand. It calls on institutional leaders to decide whether they will shape the future of learning within a robust, quality-assured framework, or risk stepping outside it.

Call to Action

If your institution is offering—or intends to offer—programmes in online or blended modes beyond 31 December 2026, the choice is immediate and unavoidable:

• Confirm your participation in the Themed Review on Modes of Learning and Teaching Provision.

• Communicate without delay with the CHE’s Directorate for Quality Reviews.

• Act by 30 April 2026—or prepare to revert to your originally accredited modes of provision.

Contact the Director: Quality Reviews, Dr Crystal Jannecke, no later than 30 April 2026, Jannecke.c@che.ac.za .

©Higher Education Media Services.

On a clear autumn morning on the University of the Free State Qwaqwa Campus, a graduation ceremony became something more than just a celebration of qualifications. It became a moment to recognise a life shaped by service.

On 10 April 2026, the university conferred an honorary Doctor of Education degree on Dr Sheila Sisulu, acknowledging her contribution to education, development, and social justice.

In her official welcome, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Hester C. Klopper contextualised the moment within the purpose of the day.

“We are also honoured to bestow the honorary Doctor of Education degree on Sheila Sisulu in recognition of her distinguished contributions to education, public service, and social development,” she said.

Her remarks connected the honour to the broader role of the university – not only to graduate students, but also to recognise leadership that shapes society beyond institutional boundaries.

Yet, when Dr Sisulu stepped forward, she gently shifted the focus away from herself.

“I’m very honoured – more than honoured,” she said, pausing with a quiet laugh. “When one is honoured, you become shy … you think, really?”

It was a disarming start. Rather than treating the doctorate as a culmination, she spoke about it as a responsibility.

“It is not just a hat and a gown and a hood,” she said. “Now I have to remember that I am part of this distinguished university … I must not embarrass the university. In fact, I must raise its flag.”

In a hall filled with graduates – many of whom had overcome significant challenges to reach this moment – the humility of that reflection carried weight.

Prof Klopper had already acknowledged that journey.

“Many of you are the first in your families to attain a university qualification. That alone is a remarkable achievement, and one that will echo through the generations that follow you,” she told the graduands.

Dr Sisulu built on that recognition, turning her attention directly to them.

“You have worked hard – some of you for a very long time – to be here today,” she said. “But behind you, you have family, your parents, your partners, your friends … they have walked with you.”

Her message echoed the university’s emphasis on graduates as contributors to society. In her address, Prof Klopper reminded students that their education carries purpose beyond personal success.

“Our mission is to create responsible societal futures – and you are the living embodiment of that mission,” she said.

Dr Sisulu’s message to graduates took that idea further, drawing on an image she attributed to former President Nelson Mandela: climbing a mountain.

Reaching the summit, she said, allows you the opportunity to pause and take in the view – but it is not the end.

“You go into the valley and conquer the next mountain.”

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For graduates, this moment marks both achievement and continuation. Learning, she reminded them, does not stop with a degree.

“When I graduated, someone said to me, now you are finished with your education,” she recalled. “I said no, I haven’t finished.”

Challenges, in her view, are not barriers, but opportunities.

“If you have a challenge, look at it as an opportunity to learn – and sometimes, to teach.”

Her career reflects that belief. From her work in education to her leadership in global organisations such as the World Food Programme, Dr Sisulu has focused on strengthening systems that respond to inequality and hunger, particularly in vulnerable communities.

In recognising her, the university affirms a form of leadership that connects knowledge to real societal change.

Dr Sisulu closed with a reminder that progress carries responsibility – not only to oneself, but to others.

Quoting Maya Angelou, she said: “As you rise, you have to lift.”

It is a message that lingers beyond the ceremony. For the graduates who sat in that hall, and for the honorary graduate among them, the work continues – shaped by learning, carried by responsibility, and measured by the lives they touch.

©Higher Education Media Services.

Gqeberha – In a moment that braided together memory, scholarship and homecoming, Professor Gabeba Baderoon – one of South Africa’s most acclaimed literary voices – was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Literature by Nelson Mandela University.

For Prof Baderoon, the recognition was not only an academic milestone, but a deeply personal return to where her life began.

“I breathed my first breath just 14 kilometres from here,” she said in her acceptance speech. “The air of the Eastern Cape lives within me.”

A poet, scholar and public intellectual of international standing, Prof Baderoon’s work has long explored the intimate intersections of memory, identity, belonging and justice. Currently an Associate Professor at Pennsylvania State University, her scholarship and creative writing span continents, while remaining firmly rooted in the textures and histories of South African life.

Yet, on this occasion, it was her mother’s story, and the enduring legacy of education, that anchored her message.

Born to a doctor who worked until the very hour before her birth at Livingstone Hospital, Prof Baderoon described education as both an inheritance and a responsibility.

Her mother, who studied medicine at the University of Cape Town during apartheid, went on to serve for 35 years in a state hospital, despite systemic inequality and lack of recognition.

“This is a powerful reminder (that) the world may not always reward your goodness – but your goodness will endure,” she said.

The staunch belief in education as something that must extend beyond the self runs through Prof Baderoon’s work and life. Her writing, from poetry collections such as The Dream in the Next Body and The History of Intimacy to her acclaimed non-fiction, has consistently illuminated the ways personal histories are shaped by broader social forces, including colonialism, apartheid, migration and faith.

Her scholarship has also foregrounded often marginalised voices, particularly in her work on Muslim identity in South Africa and her co-leadership of the African Feminist Initiative, which is a transnational platform advancing interdisciplinary research and collaboration across the continent and its diaspora.

In conferring the honorary doctorate, the University recognises not only her literary excellence, but her contribution to expanding global conversations on race, gender, religion and belonging.

Prof Baderoon herself framed the honour as part of a much larger continuum that connects past, present and future.

“In Athlone, where I grew up, lived great intellectuals such as Archibald Campbell Mzolisa Jordan and Phyllis Ntantala – thinkers who created spaces of debate, imagination, and scholarship,” she said. “Their legacy connects places, generations, and ideas… Today, we are all part of that continuum.”

Prof Baderoon called on graduates to resist conformity, embrace uncertainty and to act with courage and imagination.

“You are not here to be an afterthought of someone else’s thinking,” she said. “You are here because there is something only you can contribute.”

In an era she described as “intricate” and uncertain, Prof Baderoon urged graduates to understand their education not as an endpoint, but as an ethical commitment.

“Your education is not merely a qualification – it is a responsibility. It is an inheritance you must share; through your integrity, your compassion, your courage, and your refusal to accept injustice,” she said.

For Nelson Mandela University, the conferral of the honorary doctorate affirms its alignment with a scholar whose work embodies the transformative power of the humanities; to help societies understand themselves more fully, and to imagine more just futures.

For Prof Baderoon, it was a moment held with humility and reverence.

“This honorary doctorate is the greatest honour of my academic life,” she said. “To the place and people who gave me life, breath and inspiration – I carry you within me.”

©Higher Education Media Services.

Gqeberha – From interpreting legal conversations in a rural village for no pay, to reshaping the contours of South Africa’s judiciary, the life of Justice Cecil Mpho Somyalo is a story of quiet determination, moral clarity, and historic firsts.

On Friday, 10 April 2026, Nelson Mandela University conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Laws, recognising a career that has not only spanned more than four decades, but helped redefine the very architecture of justice in a democratic South Africa.

Born in Qumbu in the Eastern Cape, Justice Somyalo’s introduction to the law was not in lecture halls or courtrooms. As a schoolboy in the 1950s, he spent his holidays interpreting for a local attorney with no pay. Despite that, he did not quit.

“My interest in law began not in a lecture hall, but in a village in the 1950s,” he said.

“As a student, during the school holidays, I would act as an interpreter for a local attorney in my village of Qumbu. I was not paid a cent for this, and yet I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. There is something about the law, even when encountered informally, that captures the imagination. It speaks to justice, to the dignity of ordinary people navigating extraordinary circumstances.”

That early exposure would ignite a lifelong calling. After completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Fort Hare and beginning his career as a teacher, Justice Somyalo returned to pursue legal studies through the University of South Africa (UNISA). He subsequently entered a profession that, under apartheid, remained largely inaccessible to black South Africans.

Admitted as an attorney in 1971, he went on to practise law in Gqeberha for over two decades, serving communities during one of the country’s most volatile periods.

Justice Somyalo’s appointment to the bench in 1995 marked a turning point not only in his own career, but in South African legal history. As a judge of the Transkei Division of the High Court, he became the first attorney in the country to be permanently appointed to the bench, effectively challenging longstanding traditions that favoured senior advocates.

His climb up the legal ranks was swift and significant. In 1997, he became the first black jurist to be appointed Judge President of the Transkei Division and Judge President of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court just two years later.

At a time when the judiciary was grappling with the fragmentation inherited from apartheid – in terms of former homelands and provinces – Justice Somyalo played a pivotal role in unifying the courts across Makhanda, Bhisho and Mthatha. His leadership helped lay the groundwork for a more coherent and integrated judicial system in the province.

In 2001, he served two terms as an acting justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, contributing to the development of constitutional jurisprudence during a formative period in the country’s democracy.

While his institutional contributions are substantial, it is his moral philosophy that continues to resonate in the most powerful way.

He recalled a defining moment from his early legal career that demonstrates his moral compass, where, after successfully defending a client in a criminal matter, the overjoyed client committed payment “in full”.

“He looked me in the eye and told me he would pay me in full. He disappeared briefly and then returned, holding a fax machine as his form of payment. A fax machine that he had clearly not purchased legally,” he recounted.

“I want you to hold that moment in your minds, for what it taught me. The law brings you into contact with people at their most vulnerable, their most desperate, and their most human. You will be tested – not just intellectually, but morally. And how you respond in those moments, when no one is watching, when the temptation may be simply to look away – that is the measure of a lawyer. For the record, I declined the fax machine.”

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For Justice Somyalo, integrity is non-negotiable.

“Integrity is not something you apply selectively. It is not a policy you follow when it is convenient and set aside when it is costly. It is a compass. And if you allow it to guide you consistently – even when it is uncomfortable – you will never truly lose your way. The most valuable attributes of a lawyer are not found in the sophistication of their arguments, but in the unshakeable quality of their character.”

Addressing graduates directly, Justice Somyalo urged them to think beyond borders – both geographic and psychological.

“Now, let me speak directly to you, the graduates. Things are different for you. Profoundly, beautifully different. When I was starting out, the boundaries of one’s career were largely the boundaries of one’s geography,” he said.

“You practised where you lived. Your clients were your neighbours. Your world was, in many ways, your immediate surroundings. That is no longer true.”

He emphasised the global standing of South African legal education and the responsibility that comes with it.

“The legal education you have received at Nelson Mandela University – in this country, with its rich and hard-won constitutional heritage, its sophisticated jurisprudence, its grounding in both African values and international standards – is world-class. South African legal education is respected globally, and rightly so,” he said.

He called on the newly qualified legal practitioners to think boldly and broadly.

“Do not confine your ambitions to what is familiar or comfortable. The greatest contribution you can make – to your families, to your communities, to this country – may require you to go somewhere you have never been, to do something that has never been done before, to stand in rooms where people do not expect to see someone who looks like you. Go anyway. Stand there anyway. And do it with the full confidence that you belong.”

In conferring the honorary doctorate, Nelson Mandela University recognised more than a distinguished career. It honoured a legacy of transformation, mentorship and unwavering commitment to fairness and dignity.

Justice Somyalo’s work with judicial governance structures, including contributions to the Code of Conduct for Judges and his role in the Rules Board for Courts of Law, further cemented his influence on the ethical foundations of the judiciary.

“I wish to express my deepest and most sincere gratitude to the University for this extraordinary honour. I will carry it humbly, and I will do my best to remain worthy of it,” he said.

©Higher Education Media Services.

The Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) announced on Wednesday that Maropeng Vanessa Malemela was the 2026 recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in the Faculty of ICT.

Malemela completed her studies with an exceptional 86% average, earning distinctions in all 23 modules. Her outstanding performance reflects dedication and academic excellence that has earned her recognition among the university’s top graduates in the Class of 2026.

During her time at TUT, Malemela discovered a strong passion for Communication Networks and Cybersecurity. She is now pursuing this field as a career, currently working as an engineer at Huawei while advancing her expertise through an Advanced Diploma in Information Technology.

“This is what going From Good to Great looks like,” the university community proudly stated in celebration of her achievement.

The Chancellor’s Award highlights the university’s commitment to nurturing excellence and producing graduates who are ready to make meaningful contributions in their chosen fields.

Congratulations to Maropeng Vanessa Malemela on this well-deserved honour!

The story by Phaphama Tshisikhawe was first published on the TUT Website.

©Higher Education Media Services.

The governance battle triggered by the precautionary suspension of Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, the vice-chancellor of the University of Fort Hare (UFH), has escalated after two sitting council members warned colleagues of a looming institutional crisis.

In a letter dated 3 April, appointed councillors Judith Favish and Kuselwa Marala said they were alarmed by “contested authority, procedural strain and unresolved tensions” at the top of the university, citing the marginalisation of minority views, council “overreach” into operations and what they called “weak adherence” to meeting procedures.

The pair also criticised an increased reliance on task teams reporting to the council executive committee (Exco) to do work they said should be handled by the council itself, warning that the pattern “threatens the integrity of governance” at UFH.

Support and resistance

They said the tensions were playing out in a region marked by poverty, unemployment and limited formal-sector opportunities, conditions they argued heighten contestation inside the university.

“The VC’s efforts to investigate and act against corruption have been widely applauded within and beyond the university, but there are also many who are angered by these efforts for various reasons.

“We believe that the campaign mounted towards the end of 2025, demanding that ‘Buhlungu must go’, cannot be disregarded as a factor that has contributed to the unhealthy environment within which the Council operates,” they wrote.

The letter links the current standoff to UFH’s broader socio-political environment in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa and to the heightened pushback that followed Buhlungu’s drive to tackle corruption, which the authors say has attracted both support and resistance within and beyond the institution.

A key point of dispute, Favish and Marala said, was the council’s response to a breach of Section 19(1) of the UFH Statute in executive appointments, a matter first disclosed by Buhlungu. They said the council agreed disciplinary action was needed against all implicated officials but split over whether to place the vice-chancellor on precautionary suspension.

They wrote that supporters of the suspension presented it as a neutral administrative step, while opponents argued it was disproportionate, given the vice-chancellor’s disclosure, the absence of malice and an already fragile institutional climate.

The authors also raised concerns about procedure, alleging that a counterproposal was not entertained, that councillors were pushed into a single motion, and that there was resistance to recording the outcome as a majority decision rather than a consensus.

Favish and Marala said similar concerns arose during discussions on the composition of a vice-chancellor selection panel and revised recruitment procedures. They said the changes expanded political and stakeholder representation while reducing the role of academics and students, a shift that critics warned could politicise the process and weaken institutional autonomy.

Letter circulated to council members

While rejecting claims that they represent an “old guard”, the two councillors said they support change and innovation, but not at the expense of fair process, transparency and properly recorded decisions.

They warned that speed could not substitute for due process, arguing that a strong council must accommodate dissent and deliberate rigorously to protect the institution’s long-term integrity.

UFH spokesperson JP Roodt confirmed the university had received the correspondence and that the registrar had circulated it to council members for consideration at an appropriate meeting.

“It would be premature to comment on the contents before the matter has been considered through our council’s procedures,” he said.

Roodt said it was “deeply regrettable” that the letter’s contents were made public before the council had considered it.

Disciplinary processes are proceeding

Council chair Dr Siyanda Makaula said last week that Dr Nthabi Taole-Mjimba, the deputy vice-chancellor for research, partnerships and innovation had been appointed acting vice-chancellor with immediate effect.

The appointment followed the council’s decision to place Buhlungu on precautionary suspension pending a disciplinary process linked to the findings from a forensic investigation into executive appointments. The ''mandatory governance approval procedures" were not followed, according to the forensic report.

In a message to the university community, Makaula said the acting appointment was intended to ensure stability and continuity while due process runs its course.

Taole-Mjimba will serve in the acting role until the disciplinary proceedings are concluded.

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela said on Tuesday he met Makaula for a briefing on efforts to stabilise the institution after seven buildings were set alight last year.

“I’ve also been briefed extensively on the disciplinary processes, not just of the vice-chancellor, but also various other senior officials,” Manamela said.

He said he urged the council to act swiftly, fairly and justly, and to protect the university’s stability. On 7 April, a student group on the Alice campus, Young Brightest Motivated Minds (YBMM), criticised media coverage of the dispute involving the UFH council.

YBMM, which organised protests during the unrest at the university in October 2025 before the arson attacks, expressed its “deep anger and outright rejection" of what it called a coordinated media “onslaught” directed at the council.

“What we are witnessing is not journalism, but a well-orchestrated propaganda campaign designed to shield individuals, particularly the outgoing retired [and] suspended VC Prof Buhlungu, from accountability while distorting the truth before the public,” the statement said.

This article was published on the University World News site.

Gqeberha – Nelson Mandela University’s newly installed Chancellor, Dr Naledi Pandor, has set out a bold and values-driven vision for the institution, calling for strengthened academic excellence, stronger African collaboration and an unwavering commitment to justice, dignity and academic freedom.

Speaking at her official installation ceremony at the University’s Madibaz Indoor Sport Centre on Wednesday (8 April 2026), Dr Pandor reflected on the significance of the role and paid tribute to the leadership of her predecessor, Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi.

“I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the entire University community for the esteemed honour you have given my family and I by selecting me to serve as Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University following in the footsteps of the excellent leadership given by our former Chancellor Dr Fraser Moleketi,” she said.

“It is a welcome pleasure to return to the academic sector and to have the opportunity to once more immerse myself in the same cooling embrace of intellectual rigour,” said Dr Pandor, who was herself an academic, and whose political career has centred around education. She headed several ministries in the South African government, serving as Minister of Education from 2004 – 2009, and Minister of Higher Education and Training from 2018- 2019.

She commended the University’s trajectory as one defined by strong academic performance, impactful research and meaningful engagement.

“All the reports on the University performance point to a university committed to academic excellence, high quality research performance… and to genuine and effective collaboration with universities throughout the African Continent,” she said.

Grounding her address in the legacy of Nelson Mandela, Dr Pandor called on the University community to embrace ethical leadership and active citizenship.

“President Mandela is renowned for being a leader who called on all people to make every effort to be people who make good trouble… He believed the condition of harm experienced by many should persuade us to make good trouble for change,” Dr Pandor said.

Positioning the University within a complex global context – including where higher education institutions are destroyed in conflict areas – she warned of growing threats to academic freedom and the autonomy of higher education institutions.

“This increasingly worrying threat to academic freedom and free expression is a development that should cause us as Nelson Mandela University to set out our perspectives… and to assert our abiding commitment to freedom, justice, and the development of new knowledge through untrammelled scientific inquiry,” she said.

She further underscored the importance of strengthening Africa’s voice and contribution to global knowledge systems.

“This seeming absence of the South in articulating a progressive, humane, global agenda, must encourage our university to increase efforts at achieving Africa wide academic excellence,” she said.

“Our university has a stated commitment to Africa and this needs to be pursued beyond rhetoric through real actions in support of Africa’s Agenda 2063.”

At an institutional level, Dr Pandor emphasised the importance of dignity, inclusion and lived values.

“Our commitment must also include sustainably nurturing an institution in which all enjoy respect and dignity… a university in which our Bill of Rights is rehearsed in practice.”

She called on the University community to honour the legacy of democracy through excellence and service.

“We owe a legacy to all the founders of our democracy to express our gratitude by being hard working quality students, quality academics, quality administrators, quality university leaders and quality leaders of society.”

The installation was marked by strong messages of support from government, higher education sector and institutional leadership, and various stakeholders, affirming confidence in Dr Pandor’s leadership.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sibongile Muthwa, welcomed the appointment and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to ethical, service-oriented leadership.

“I take this opportunity to congratulate our Chancellor on her ascension to this top office at our university. We are going to continue to do what we have always done – to put our university on a strong footing as a university in service of society,” she said.

“We understand leadership as stewardship… leadership as answering the calling that is larger than all of us.”

Minister of Higher Education and Training, Buti Manamela, described the appointment as both symbolic and significant for the sector.

“Today is not merely ceremonial. It is symbolic. It marks the convergence of leadership, legacy, and the enduring pursuit of knowledge that defines this institution,” he said.

“Nelson Mandela University could not have chosen a more fitting steward of its values, its aspirations, and its future.”

Representing Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane, Member of the Provincial Legislature Tony Duba emphasised the strategic importance of the University to provincial development.

“This milestone is not only significant for Nelson Mandela University alone, but also for the Eastern Cape Province as a whole. We are confident that under your stewardship, this University will continue to flourish as a beacon of hope, intellectual rigour, and social justice,” he said.

Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, highlighted the broader significance of the appointment for the city and region.

“This is a moment of great pride and significance, not only for the institution, but for the broader Nelson Mandela Bay community. They have gained a committed, capable and visionary leader whose thought leadership will help guide the institution to even greater heights,” she said.

Student Representative Council President Somila Komani welcomed the Chancellor on behalf of the student body.

“We are honoured to have you at the helm of this institution. May your tenure be filled with vision, inspiration and success,” she said.

Alumni Association president, Lebo Nare, said: “Madam Chancellor, your installation comes at a defining moment for higher education in South Africa… In such a time, your appointment is both timely and deeply meaningful.”

Additional messages of congratulations were received from the University’s Senate, Universities South Africa, and organised labour unions Nehawu and NTEU, reflecting broad support for the new Chancellor’s tenure.

Dr Pandor officially assumed office on 1 April 2026 and is presiding over the University’s Gqeberha graduation ceremonies that commenced on 9 April, which will see more than 6 000 students graduate.

©Higher Education Media Services.

The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) congratulates the Vice- Chancellor and Principal, Professor Pamela Dube, on her appointment as Chairperson of the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) Board of Directors, effective from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028.

This prestigious appointment is a testament to Professor Dube’s exemplary leadership, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to advancing technology-focused higher education in South Africa and beyond.

In her role as Chairperson, Prof. Dube will provide strategic oversight and leadership to the Board. She will also play a pivotal role in advancing innovation, fostering collaboration among institutions, and championing impactful initiatives that empower students and academic communities.

She follows in the distinguished footsteps of former CUT Vice- Chancellors, including Professor Henk de Jager, current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of THENSA, and Professor Thandwa Mthembu, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Durban University of Technology (DUT). This further highlights the institution’s strong legacy of leadership in the higher education sector.

CUT Vice-Chancellors continue to make a remarkable impact, truly setting the standard for excellence.

©Higher Education Media Services.

“I’ve also been briefed extensively on the disciplinary processes, not just of the vice-chancellor, but also various other senior officials,” Manamela said.

He said he urged the council to act swiftly, fairly and justly, and to protect the university’s stability. “Our role is to ensure that the University Council runs the university properly, and I think, thus far, we have asked them to keep us updated in terms of the progress in that regard,” the Minister said.

© Higher Education Media Services

When most people are still tucked in bed, the wetlands are already alive with music. Just before sunrise, a symphony of birdsong fills the air, a natural orchestra that holds more meaning than most realise.

For Toka Mosikidi, a PhD candidate in the Department of Zoology and Entomology on the UFS Qwaqwa Campus, this morning performance turns beautiful sound into valuable scientific data.

He studies what is known as the dawn chorus, when birdsong is most active around sunrise. “To humans it might sound like a bit of a cacophony,” he says, “but to the ‘real’ audience (females of the species), it is highly attractive and it’s important to still find the right mate among all those gentleman singers.”

In the Southern Hemisphere, these early-morning serenades are most intense between September and February, forming part of the birds’ efforts to establish territories and attract mates.

Mosikidi often programmed his equipment to start recording before sunrise, capturing the first calls as they broke the early morning silence. From his recordings, it became clear that different species join in at distinct moments; almost as if each was following its own cue in the early-morning performance.

By analysing hours of these recordings, Mosikidi and his team discovered how environmental factors shape when and how often birds begin singing at dawn. Temperature had the most consistent effect, with all three species – the African yellow warbler, lesser swamp warbler, and the little rush warbler – starting earlier on warmer mornings and later on colder ones.

Humidity, wind, and rainfall produced species-specific responses: higher humidity advanced singing in the yellow warbler but delayed it in the swamp warbler; wind prompted earlier songs for the swamp and rush warblers; and rainfall delayed the yellow and rush warblers but advanced the swamp warbler’s onset.

Lunar brightness also played a role, as the swamp and rush warblers began singing later after full-moon nights, while the yellow warbler remained unaffected. “Across species, the earliest singing occurred in mid-breeding season and the latest toward its end,” he says.

These patterns show how birds carefully adjust their behaviour to environmental and seasonal cues, offering valuable insight into how climate and habitat conditions shape daily patterns and wetland ecosystem health.

His research forms part of broader work in the Department of Zoology and Entomology under the guidance of Prof Aliza le Roux. That broader perspective opened the door to a bigger question: what can birds’ songs tell us about the wetlands they inhabit?

Because birds are sensitive to their surroundings, changes in their songs can indicate problems in wetland ecosystems before they become visible. “Birdsong can act as a proxy for wetland health,” he explains. “When there’s less variety or intensity in their calls, it could mean that the environment is under stress from pollution, water changes, or habitat degradation.”

For Mosikidi, fieldwork has been both challenging and unforgettable. Working in remote wetlands meant long walks, wading through water to reach recording sites, and even losing equipment to a fire that swept through part of the area.

Yet, these experiences strengthened his love for science. “We were among the few to use acoustic monitoring like this in such an environment,” he says. “It wasn’t easy, but it was incredibly rewarding.”

His work is helping to build a new way of listening to nature. One that could guide how we monitor and protect South Africa’s disappearing wetlands.

This article first appeared on the University of the Free State website.

©Higher Education Media Services.

Established in 2016 as a Chair in African Philanthropy, CAPSI has grown into a first-of-its-kind, Pan-African centre dedicated to the study and advancement of philanthropy and social investment on the continent.

Over the past decade, the Centre has built a reputation as a leading platform connecting research, teaching, policy, and practice, while amplifying African perspectives in global development conversations.

More recently, CAPSI has led continent-wide research, convened leading voices from across Africa and beyond, and built partnerships supporting large-scale initiatives focused on philanthropy, youth, women, sustainable development, social investment, and systems change, among others.

Housed within WBS at the University of the Witwatersrand, one of Africa’s leading research-intensive institutions, CAPSI’s work aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, contributing to a vision of inclusive, sustainable, and self-determined development across Africa.

At its core, CAPSI is not only a research centre, but a platform for reimagining how Africa mobilises its own resources, knowledge, and leadership to drive development on its own terms.

Reflecting on the milestone, Professor Bhekinkosi Moyo, Director of CAPSI, said:

“Over the past decade, CAPSI has helped to reframe African philanthropy, not as an act of charity, but as a powerful expression of agency, solidarity, and systemic change. As we look ahead, our focus is on deepening this work and ensuring that African voices continue to shape the future of development on the continent.”

Professor Jacob Mati, Academic Director at CAPSI, added:

“Our work sits at the intersection of research, teaching, and practice. Over the past ten years, we have built a body of knowledge that is both academically rigorous and deeply rooted in African realities. The next decade will require even greater integration across these domains.”

Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Witwatersrand said:

“CAPSI represents the kind of African-led, globally relevant scholarship that defines Wits University’s mission. Over the past decade, it has established itself as a leading centre of excellence, not only on the continent but increasingly in global conversations on philanthropy, development, and social investment.”

From an academic chair to a continental platform

Over the past ten years, CAPSI has evolved into a multi-dimensional hub of influence, integrating:

• Academic and short course programmes spanning masterclasses through to doctoral studies in African philanthropy and social investment

• Groundbreaking research, including a landmark multi-country study on dignified and fulfilling work for youth across 17 African countries

• Flagship convenings, such as the African Philanthropy Conference (APC), now one of the continent’s leading platforms bringing together funders, scholars, policymakers, and practitioners

• Strategic partnerships, including major collaborations with numerous funders, alongside a growing network of African and global institutions

Through this integrated approach, CAPSI has contributed to shaping the broader ecosystem of philanthropy in Africa, influencing how knowledge, funding, and leadership intersect across the continent.

Research that moves beyond the page

A defining feature of CAPSI’s work is its commitment to translating research into real-world impact. Its flagship research initiative on dignified and fulfilling work for Africa’s youth, conducted across 17 countries in partnership with African-led research networks, represents the most comprehensive study of its kind on the continent.

The research highlights both the potential of the non-profit sector to create meaningful employment pathways, and the structural barriers young people continue to face.

Importantly, CAPSI has extended this work beyond traditional academic outputs. Initiatives such as the pan-African youth competition, with a significant prize sum allocated to the winners, invite young people to translate research into creative formats, from digital storytelling to podcasts, ensuring that knowledge is accessible, relevant, and shaped by youth voices themselves.

With Africa’s youth population projected to double by 2050, the question of dignified and fulfilling work is not only developmental, it is existential to the continent’s future.

Advancing inclusive and African-led leadership

CAPSI’s impact is reflected not only in its research, but in the leaders it helps to develop.

Through its academic and executive programmes, the Centre has built a growing global network of alumni across government, civil society, philanthropy, and the private sector, equipped with systems thinking, ethical grounding, and a deep understanding of African development contexts.

Programmes such as Adɔyɛ (“Love in Action”) further extend this impact by advancing women’s leadership in African philanthropy, amplifying often under-recognised contributions across communities, institutions, and the diaspora.

A trusted platform for dialogue and influence

Over the past decade, CAPSI has also established itself as a convening force and thought leadership platform, hosting high-level dialogues and public engagements with leading African and global voices.

Through initiatives such as the Conversations on African Philanthropy podcast, public lectures, and partnerships with major organisations, CAPSI continues to shape critical conversations on philanthropy, development, and social investment.

Looking ahead: The next decade

As CAPSI enters its second decade, its focus is firmly on shaping the future of philanthropy and social investment from an African perspective, positioning the continent not only as a recipient of development, but as a global thought leader in how giving, investment, and impact are understood.

Key priorities include:

• Expanding its Pan-African reach and partnerships

• Deepening its work on youth livelihoods and the future of work

• Advancing women’s leadership in philanthropy

• Exploring the role of artificial intelligence and ethics in development and social investment

• Strengthening Africa’s position as a global thought leader in philanthropy and social investment

A platform for Africa’s future

From its origins as an academic Chair to its current position as a continental platform and Centre of research excellence, CAPSI’s journey reflects a broader shift towards African-led knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.

As it looks ahead, the Centre remains committed to shaping a future where philanthropy and social investment are not peripheral, but central to building inclusive, resilient, and self-determined societies across Africa, and to ensuring that African voices, knowledge systems, and leadership are at the forefront of global development conversations.

About the Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI)
The Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment (CAPSI) advances social change across the continent by generating knowledge, fostering partnerships, and driving innovation in philanthropy and social investment.

CAPSI is committed to developing the next generation of African researchers, practitioners, and leaders through its academic programmes, short courses, research, publications, and convenings.

For more information, visit:

https://www.capsi.wits.ac.za/

where you can explore CAPSI’s research, journals, initiatives, programmes, and academic and short course offerings.

©Higher Education Media Services.

When teenage pregnancy and early parenting felt like a double-edged sword, Noku Katom made a life-changing decision: She would “go and fetch herself”.

Last week, she graduated cum laude with a master’s degree in practical theology (community development) from Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Theology. “Though life’s challenges delayed my path to higher education, I knew that that chapter was part of my story, not its end,” she reflects.

Today, Katom is a community developer, faith-driven entrepreneur, and scholar–practitioner exploring how theology can inspire economic justice and transformation in South Africa’s deeply unequal society.

A journey rooted in resilience

Originally from the Qumanco village in Cofimvaba in the Eastern Cape, Katom is the third of eight children. She was raised in a community where resilience and faith were part of daily life, she says.

Although she had been living in Kayamandi since the early 2000s, SU once felt out of reach. “There were very few students who looked like me or spoke like me. Language was also a major barrier,” she comments. “I never imagined myself studying at SU.”

But over time, as she witnessed the University’s transformation, something shifted. “What once felt distant and inaccessible eventually became part of my own journey.”

Today, she shares that story widely, especially with young people who doubt whether they belong at SU. She explains how she witnessed the University’s transformation during her time living in the area. “That transformation made it possible for me to imagine myself studying here.”

One thing that stood out for her was that the University is located within walking distance of marginalised communities. “This proximity created a sense that higher education could be within reach,” she comments.

Starting later, but with purpose

Katom began her studies in her late thirties, navigating the complexities of being an older student among younger peers.

“I had to confront the inner shame of being an older full-time student among much younger students,” she admits. “But one thing people often don’t realise is that older students often perform very well academically – not in comparison with younger students, but because we study with life experience, discipline, and intention.”

This is something she shares when encouraging mature aspirant students who feel they may have missed their chance. “Education does not have an expiry date.”

Challenges – and moments of grace

Like many students, Katom faced financial difficulties throughout her studies. Yet she speaks with deep gratitude about the support she received along the way.

One moment stands out.

“In December 2022, I had an outstanding debt with the University, and it was unexpectedly paid in full by someone. I still don’t know who it was,” she says. “For me, that was a powerful reminder of God’s provision.”

She also values SU’s policy that allows students with outstanding debt to attend their graduation.

“Graduation is such a significant moment, especially for students from marginalised backgrounds. I will always be grateful that SU allowed me to experience this milestone.”

Despite financial constraints, her academic journey opened doors she never imagined. These included international travel to India, Finland and Poland. A 2024 exchange programme in Finland proved particularly transformative.

“It turned me into an author,” Katom says. “I wrote a book reflecting on my journey. It reminded me that entrepreneurs see opportunities behind challenges.”

Support central to success

Katom credits her support network as central to her success.

She speaks with deep appreciation of Dr Dawid Mouton from the Faculty of Theology, who provided pastoral care during the Covid-19 pandemic; even allowing her to cry when things got tough. “His support was not only academic; it was deeply human.”

Her supervisor, Prof Nadine Bowers du Toit, also played a pivotal role.

“I could write a whole book about her guidance; perhaps it would be titled “Thesis, Tears and Triumph: A Student’s Guide to Choosing the Right Supervisor”.

Her support went far beyond academic supervision; she genuinely cared about my wellbeing as a person.”

That care was especially meaningful after the loss of Katom’s father in 2025. “She held space for me during a very painful time. That meant more than I can fully express.”

Finding purpose in theology

Although her decision to study theology was rooted in faith, Katom initially had a limited understanding of the field.

“I thought theology was mainly about becoming a pastor,” she says. “But I knew my calling was in working with people and communities.”

At SU, she discovered the wide scope of the discipline and found her place in practical theology, specialising in community development.

“What amazed me was discovering that the work I had been doing for years actually exists as a full academic discipline. In many ways, my studies helped me put academic language and theoretical grounding to work I had already been passionate about for a long time.”

Turning research into impact

Katom hopes to pursue a PhD in the future, when finances allow.

In the meantime, she is focused on putting her master’s research into practice. Her study, “Christian Entrepreneurship and Marketplace Ministry: Bridging the Sacred–Secular Divide for Women’s Economic Participation in the South African Context”, reflects her vision for change.

She plans to partner with churches across South Africa to build faith-based entrepreneurship ecosystems, particularly aimed at empowering women.

“The goal is to help churches become spaces where faith, economic justice and empowerment meet,” she explains.

Through mentorship, skills development and community support, she hopes to expand women’s participation in the economy – and demonstrate how theology can actively contribute to social transformation.

A story still unfolding

As Katom celebrates her third graduation, she remains grounded in what continues to motivate her.

“I am in competition with no one but my yesterday,” she says. Her journey from a young mother in a rural Eastern Cape community to a cum laude graduate and emerging thought leader is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to begin again.

“Education changed my life,” she reflects. “Now my calling is to ensure that faith becomes a force for economic justice and human dignity in our communities.”

Story by Anél Lewis was first published on su.ac.za.

©Higher Education Media Services.

The University of the Free State (UFS), through its Faculty of Law, has secured urgent High Court relief to protect vulnerable communities in the Free State.

The UFS Law Clinic and the Free State Centre for Human Rights (FSCHR) successfully intervened in two separate matters involving eviction and access to water, reinforcing the university’s commitment to social justice and responsible societal futures.

In rulings by the Free State Division of the High Court, an eviction order affecting an unrepresented community in Dealesville, 67 km north-west of Bloemfontein, was halted, while water services to residents of the Brandwag Flats social housing complex in Bloemfontein were ordered to be restored following unlawful disconnections by the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality.

Advancing justice through legal intervention

In the first matter, the Law Clinic approached the High Court to stay the execution of an eviction order affecting an indigent and unrepresented community in Dealesville.

The court granted an order halting the eviction pending an application to rescind the original order, ensuring that affected residents are afforded the opportunity to participate in proceedings that directly impact their lives.

In a separate urgent application, the FSCHR acted against the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality after water services to residents of Brandwag Flats were unilaterally disconnected. The court ordered the immediate restoration of water, accompanied by a punitive cost order.

“These cases highlight the importance of ensuring that vulnerable communities are not excluded from legal processes that affect their lives. Access to justice must be practical and inclusive,” said Christopher Rawson, Director of the UFS Law Clinic.

“Our work is about translating legal expertise into real impact within communities. It is through interventions like these that we begin to address inequality at a local level.”

The interventions reflect the UFS’ broader mission to contribute meaningfully to responsible societal futures. Through strategic legal action, the Faculty of Law continues to translate expertise into tangible impact across the province.

“Access to basic services and protection against eviction are central to human dignity. These interventions show how the law can be used to uphold those rights,” said Dr Martie Bloem, Legal Coordinator at the FSCHR.

“This work reflects our broader commitment to advancing human rights within the Free State. It also strengthens the role of the university in driving meaningful societal change.”

At the UFS, this work forms part of a wider approach to engaged scholarship and clinical legal education, which sees students gaining practical experience while contributing to real-world solutions.

By intervening in urgent matters involving eviction and access to basic services, the university ensures that vulnerable communities can exercise their constitutional rights and access justice.

This approach echoes Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Hester C. Klopper’s call for the university community to “walk with purpose” – advancing human dignity, reducing inequality, and shaping responsible societal futures through meaningful action.

The university extends its appreciation to Advocate LJB Moeng and Advocate Z Nyezi for their exceptional legal representation in these matters.

The story was first published on www.ufs.ac.za.

©Higher Education Media Services.