Hundreds of qualifications were conferred during the CPUT Spring Graduation on the Bellville Campus today.

The event is one of the highlights of the CPUT academic calendar and provides the university with an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the achievements of students from all faculties.

During this year’s Spring Graduation CPUT will confer 989 diplomas and degrees, including 45 Masters and Doctoral degrees, in two ceremonies on the Bellville Campus.

This was the first graduation which Chancellor Thandi Modise presided over since her installation as CPUT chancellor, and marks a new era for the university.

Modise, who is also Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, has succeeded former Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, who was the inaugural chancellor at CPUT.

The morning ceremony saw qualifications being conferred to students who completed academic programmes in the faculties of Applied Science, Business and Management Sciences, Education, Health and Wellness Sciences as well as Informatics and Design.

Acting Vice-chancellor, Dr Chris Nhlapo, told the audience that the day represents several years of study which required sacrifices not only from the graduates but also from their partners and family members.

“The number of our graduates show that we are making great strides in research and innovation,” said Nhlapo.

In the afternoon ceremony graduates in the Faculty of Engineering will be capped, including 21 Masters and Doctoral degrees.  

Written by Kwanele Butana
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The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) welcomed its new Chancellor, Thandi Modise, in a ceremony attended by Minister of Higher Education Dr Blade Nzimande.

Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Modise succeeds former Finance Minister Trevor Manuel as Chancellor, and in doing so becomes the first woman, and only the second person to ascend to this office at CPUT.

Modise said she felt honoured to lead the largest tertiary institution in the Western Cape. Referring to the difficulties all tertiary institutions have been facing since 2015, she says, “Although it is a challenge I have always welcomed getting into difficult spaces, if only to prove that women are capable. It is also an awesome task because with the economy slowing down some of the issue bedevilling CPUT – issues of high salaries and properly catering to students are going to take longer to address because the fiscus is strained.

“Even though the job of a Chancellor is very ceremonial, I am taking up the challenge to engage and try to mediate between the students and management. For me this is important because the only way forward is if there is stability. The challenges we are facing with a university like this one, which must push innovation, is that you must produce and produce fast to mitigate the risks. I will be taking up the challenge and am very, very honoured.”

Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Chris Nhlapo in his welcome address spoke of Modise’s proven track record as a competent and capable leader, “I look forward to the ways you will assist us in creating futures and making this university into a world-class institution.”

Minister Nzimande says the institution was gaining a highly principled Chancellor.

 “One of the most important things precisely during these challenging times in the higher education sector, generally, and at CPUT, specifically, is that we need more government leadership to work together with student and worker leadership. It becomes therefore very important that she joins the higher education community at this point because we need her wisdom and dedication. She’s a very principled person and we need those like her to act as examples,” he says.

Written by Abigail Calata

Acclaimed film producer Anant Singh, who has been awarded an honorary doctorate from CPUT, has dedicated the accolade to the late struggle stalwart, Ahmed Kathrada.

Singh, the producer of films such as Sarafina and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom was honoured with a Doctorate in Technology in Design for his outstanding contribution to the development and sustainability of the South African film industry.

“I want to dedicate this amazing accolade to Ahmed Kathrada,” Singh said during the graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Informatics and Design, during which his honorary doctorate was conferred.

“He was an exceptional human being and I was very fortunate to have him as a friend. He was a selfless leader, committed to humanity, a fighter and warrior for the downtrodden and less fortunate – not only of this country but people around the world.”

He urged the graduates to learn from Kathrada’s life.

“I would like to accept this accolade with humility and appreciation and acknowledging many thousands of people that come together to make films.

CPUT Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr John Volmink said the ceremony was a very special one.

“It is our privilege to have in our midst for the first time the newly elected Chancellor of CPUT, Thandi Modise.”

Modise is the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces and took over as chancellor from Trevor Manuel.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
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