Dear UJ community,
Not so long ago, as we marked the end of the first semester on 23 June, I reminisced about our University’s successes and achievements since the beginning of this year. The end of the semester is usually a welcome period for our students and academic staff as they go on recess. But as the old cliché goes, ‘time flies’. It is pleasing to see that everyone is now back on campus and fully focused on academic activities. You will recall that just before the winter recess period, we launched the UJ Core Values, a powerful gesture of solidarity that reaffirms our commitment to a university culture guided by unity and purpose.
UJ’s Zero-Tolerant stance on GBV
Talking of UJ Core Values, many of you would have seen a message that has been shared via a circular, reminding our staff and students about UJ’s stance on Gender-Based Violence (GBV). This scourge keeps rearing its ugly head in our private and public spaces, including at our beloved University. As such, I thought I should remind you that UJ is Zero-Tolerant of any form of violence, intimidation, and bullying, whether in-person or online. To create greater awareness, the University is implementing various initiatives to ensure a safe environment for all students and staff members. Some of the activities include providing support services for survivors, establishing policies and protocols to address GBV, and training workshops for students and staff to promote gender equality and educate them on GBV prevention. We encourage the UJ community to report any behaviour that they suspect resembles the definitions and descriptions of GBV. To read more about this, click here.
UJ Men’s Forum against GBV
As part of the initiatives to raise awareness of GBV, our University held a MAN-TO-MEN dialogue at the Auckland Park Kingsway (APK) Library yesterday. Through initiatives like this, we seek to address GBV-related issues by encouraging men to redefine masculinity as a matter of accountability, empathy, and healing. Men are urged to examine their societal roles within destructive norms and to advocate for meaningful change. The event provides a platform for candid discussions facilitated by community leaders, faith figures, psychologists, and survivors, aiming to cultivate a new paradigm of masculinity – one that upholds dignity, emotional intelligence, and shared responsibility for safeguarding women and children. The key focus is on Transforming Masculinity: Deconstructing harmful gender norms and promoting emotionally intelligent, accountable, and healing-centred forms of manhood. Topics include Building a Culture of Action and Accountability: Mobilising men to break the silence, challenge abusive behaviour among peers, and actively contribute to ending GBVF through advocacy, mentorship, and community engagement.
USAf Colloquium
While some of you were away, I had the honour of delivering an opening address at the Universities South Africa (USAf) Colloquium on 10 July 2025. In a world transformed by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), we must urgently reflect on how higher education can remain relevant and impactful. Take, for instance, research by the World Economic Forum, which projects that 92 million jobs will be lost, while 170 million new ones will be created by 2030. As such, universities have an obligation to equip graduates for roles that do not yet exist – through a curriculum that embraces technology, fosters critical thinking, and responds to real-world needs. Indeed, we should continue to reimagine universities not as static institutions, but as dynamic engines of public good. This includes infusing teaching with augmented reality, enhancing student support with data insights, and expanding access through online platforms such as MOOCs and UJ Digital. But it also means remembering our deeper mission: to serve society, generate impactful research, and promote sustainable futures.
UJ Soweto Campus Electricity Backup
Electricity and water supply remain a challenge for our University, especially at the Soweto Campus (SWC). However, I am grateful for the work that our Chief Operating Officer, Dr Mpoti Ralephata, and his colleagues are doing to stabilise the situation. The SWC Backup Plant is a prime example of prioritising health and safety in diesel power plant design. The focus is on creating an environment that safeguards personnel, the community, and the ecosystem throughout the plant’s lifecycle. Risk assessments guide our strategies, addressing fuel handling, machinery operation, emissions, and noise. The plant layout enhances safety with ergonomic designs and a clear emergency pathway, while advanced containment and ventilation measures ensure a healthy atmosphere. This is complemented by noise reduction technologies that protect workers’ hearing and foster community relations. Robust fire safety systems, comprehensive machinery safeguards, and automated control systems underscore our commitment to minimising risks. With environmental safeguards in place, SWC Backup Plant is set to lead with efficiency and sustainability.
UJ Nelson Mandela International Day
Each year, the 18th of July marks Nelson Mandela Day, an annual global celebration to honour the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. This day is also a call to action for individuals, communities, and organisations to take time to reflect on Mandela’s values and principles and to make a positive impact in their own communities. This year’s theme is It’s still in our hands to combat poverty and inequity. To heed this call, our Community Engagement Unit within University Relations, in partnership with the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE), will embark on various community initiatives in celebration of this day. This includes visits to hospitals in Johannesburg, such as the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital, Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, and Bheki Mlangeni Hospital. On 29 March 2025, the Community Engagement Unit will host a special webinar under the theme Combating Poverty & Inequity – Reflecting on UJ’s 20-Year Legacy of Societal Impact. To attend the webinar, register here.
High Tea with the VC
It is my pleasure to invite you to the next hybrid High Tea with the VC book discussion next week Friday, 25 July 2025. We will host Professor Morley Nkosi for what promises to be a fascinating discussion of his book The Way Home: Memories of a South African in Exile. As retired academic Dr Mokubung Nkomo once observed, “The Way Home adds a vital part to the literature on the lived experiences of formerly exiled South Africans, yet is immensely valuable to those who waged the struggle on the home front as well. It is a must-read for the old, young, and, hopefully, those yet to be born. We will meet at the UJ Library, Chinua Achebe Auditorium, Level 6, APK Campus at the usual time of 14h00 (CAT). To register, click here. For in-person, RSVP here.
Celebrating UJ Sport Achievements
Lastly, this month, UJ Sport Teams achieved outstanding results at the 2025 University Sport South Africa (USSA) championships. The teams secured a total of five gold, two silver, and two bronze medals – which marked a significant improvement from previous years. Among the winning teams were the Senior Men’s and Women’s Netball Teams, which contributed two gold medals, while the Squash teams contributed a gold and a bronze. Furthermore, the UJ Senior Men’s Hockey Team earned their second consecutive bronze medal, while the Women’s Rugby Team clinched the Women’s USSA Rugby title after winning all three of their fixtures. Also happening this month, about 15 of our athletes, coaches, and support staff are in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, to represent South Africa in the FISU World University Games. This prestigious international student competition features 18 sporting codes across 23 venues, celebrating sport, science, and culture. Please do us proud! Click here to read more about this.
Ke a leboha, ngiyabonga, thank you, baie dankie!
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi: Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Times mentioned in this newsletter refer to the South African time zone.
