A Season of Triumph: UJ Graduates and Global Trailblazers Take Centre Stage
From 2 March to 12 June, UJ celebrates academic success and confers honorary doctorates on leaders redefining equity, innovation and nation‑building.
The University of Johannesburg (UJ) has officially begun its graduation season as the Autumn 2026 ceremonies which began on 2 March continues until 12 June. Across 61 main ceremonies, together with seven additional graduations, 13 125 graduands will step onto the stage. Each crossing represents years of perseverance, intellectual growth and determination, transforming UJ’s campuses into vibrant spaces of celebration and achievement.
While more than 13 000 new graduates will be celebrated during the Autumn season, several extraordinary leaders will receive honorary doctorates throughout the year.
These conferrals affirm the University’s commitment to honouring influence that transcends professions, borders and disciplines. As the Class of 2025 prepares to shape the future, they will do so alongside global figures whose lives exemplify transformative leadership and enduring impact.
Faculty of Health Sciences
On 16 March 2026, the Faculty of Health Sciences will confer an honorary doctorate upon Monica Geingos. A lawyer, entrepreneur and globally recognised advocate for health equity, Geingos has transformed public leadership into a platform for action. Through the One Economy Foundation and the #BeFree Movement, she has confronted youth vulnerability, HIV stigma and structural inequality with bold, evidence-driven interventions.
As a UNAIDS Special Advocate and international champion for equitable access to treatment and prevention, her influence extends across Africa and into global health diplomacy.
On 25 March 2026, the same Faculty will honour Francois Pienaar, whose leadership became a defining symbol of national unity. As captain of the Springboks during the historic 1995 Rugby World Cup victory, Pienaar embodied reconciliation in action. Beyond the field, he has shaped opportunity through the Make A Difference Leadership Foundation, supporting academically gifted youth, and through the Varsity Cup, which transformed university sport into a powerful development platform.
His recognition celebrates leadership that unites performance, purpose and nation-building.
College of Business and Economics
On 27 March 2026, the College of Business and Economics will confer an honorary doctorate on Tryphosa Ramano. A Chartered Accountant and transformative financial leader, Ramano has shaped South Africa’s fiscal governance architecture across public and private sectors.
From National Treasury to executive and board leadership roles, she has championed ethical oversight, disciplined capital management and inclusive transformation within asset management. Her career stands as a benchmark for integrity and excellence in finance.
Faculty of Humanities
On 15 April 2026, the Faculty of Humanities will honour Njabulo Ndebele, one of South Africa’s foremost literary and academic figures, and former Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg.
Author of Fools and Other Stories and The Cry of Winnie Mandela, Ndebele reshaped South African intellectual discourse by illuminating the depth and dignity of ordinary lives.
As Vice-Chancellor of leading institutions and former Chancellor of UJ, he has guided transformation in higher education while championing African scholarship and democratic thought.
Faculty of Education
On 16 April 2026, the Faculty of Education will confer an honorary doctorate on John Samuel, one of South Africa’s most influential education policy architects.
As Head of the ANC Education Desk in the early 1990s, Samuel played a pivotal role in shaping a unified, democratic education system to replace apartheid-era fragmentation and inequality.
He later served as Deputy Director-General in the national Department of Education, where he advanced major systemic reforms across basic and higher education. Through his continued work in development and policy, Samuel has championed education as a public good and a cornerstone of democratic nation-building. His recognition affirms the enduring impact of his leadership on South Africa’s education landscape.
Faculty of Science
The season culminates on 29 May 2026 when the Faculty of Science confers an honorary doctorate on Loyiso Nongxa.
A distinguished mathematician and the first black South African Rhodes Scholar, Nongxa has combined scholarly excellence with visionary institutional leadership.
As a past Chair of the National Research Foundation, he strengthened research capacity and elevated mathematical sciences across Africa, reinforcing the central role of science in driving innovation and economic progress.
Beyond the Autumn ceremonies, additional honorary doctorates will be conferred later in 2026 during the University’s Spring and Summer graduation seasons, extending the University’s recognition of leadership across law, social development and global education diplomacy.
Justice Sisi Khampepe will be honoured by the Faculty of Law, recognising her distinguished service to constitutional jurisprudence and the advancement of human rights.
A former Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa and former Deputy Chief Justice, Khampepe has played a pivotal role in shaping post-apartheid constitutional interpretation, strengthening judicial independence and reinforcing the protection of vulnerable communities through landmark judgments.
Her earlier service on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and as Chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand further reflects a career dedicated to justice, accountability and democratic consolidation.
Zanele Mbeki will receive recognition from the Faculty of Humanities for her enduring contribution to social development and women’s empowerment. As founder of the Women’s Development Bank and the Women’s Development Foundation, she has advanced economic participation for rural and marginalised women, positioning gender equity at the centre of development discourse.
Through decades of advocacy, policy engagement and institution-building, Mbeki has championed inclusive growth and the strengthening of women-led enterprises across South Africa and the continent.
Her Highness Moza bint Nasser will also be conferred with an honorary doctorate, acknowledging her global leadership in education, development and humanitarian advancement.
As Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and a prominent advocate within UNESCO initiatives, she has driven large-scale educational reform, expanded access to quality schooling in underserved regions and positioned knowledge as a cornerstone of sustainable development.
Her international work bridges philanthropy, policy and innovation, reinforcing education as a transformative force in societies worldwide.
Professor Bettine van Vuuren, Registrar, UJ, said: “An honorary doctorate is the highest accolade a university can confer. It follows a rigorous and deliberate process and is reserved for individuals whose leadership and achievements have reshaped industries, influenced society and global discourse or advanced knowledge beyond traditional academic pathways”.
“As our graduands cross the stage, these graduations speak not only to academic accomplishment but to the values we uphold as an institution. By honouring these distinguished leaders alongside our graduates, we affirm that excellence is measured both by scholarly achievement and by transformative contribution to society.”
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UJ, added: “These honorary doctorates reflect the expansive reach of our academic mission, spanning health sciences, financial governance, literature, mathematics, sport, education, law and global development. They represent lives anchored in integrity, courage and sustained excellence.
“As our graduates enter new chapters of professional and civic life, they do so in the presence of individuals who demonstrate what can be achieved when education is matched with purpose. This graduation season is not merely a celebration of qualifications conferred. It is a powerful affirmation of knowledge in action and of the enduring role universities play in shaping nations and advancing our continent.”