Dear UJ community,

Many of you would have seen recent media reports about NSFAS’s decision to defund students across universities. I thought it was important to share with you some of our interventions to minimise or mitigate the impact on affected students. From as early as May, when we first learnt of this matter, we actively engaged with various stakeholders, including NSFAS and the affected students, to find possible solutions. On requests from students, for instance, we facilitated a meeting between them and NSFAS representatives.

Academic success and student well-being is our prime concern  

Below are some of the immediate steps we took, at no cost to students, to minimise the impact of defunding on affected students.

• Provided students with financial support through the SRC Trust Fund, which ensured that they were not deregistered.
• Students residing in Privately-Owned Student Accommodation were not evicted.
• Students who stay off-campus and opt to move to campus residence rooms had their deposit requirements waived so they could be accommodated.
• Students living in campus residences were not evicted.
• Extended the University’s meal assistance programme to affected students. This programme caters for students with non-perishable food items such as rice, pasta, maize meal, sugar, tinned foods, among other food items.
• Provided affected students with dignity packs, including sanitary towels, soap, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrush, roll-on, to mention a few.

While UJ sympathises with the affected students, it must be emphasised that the University will not tolerate acts of violence and intimidation at any of its campuses or other sites. We welcome the Minister of Higher Education and Training, Hon. Buti Mananela’s announcement that funds would be freed to help students. UJ remains committed to supporting our students and working closely with all partners to resolve these challenges.

UJ Devland Campus: Empowering underprivileged communities

Yesterday marked another milestone in our University’s transformative societal impact initiatives, when we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the use of the UJ Devland Campus in Soweto with the Ward Councillor, Mr Budget Makaula. The UJ Devland Campus is a state-of-the-art facility that houses teaching spaces, including computer labs and a lecture hall. Other facilities include open-plan work areas, a canteen, ablutions, as well as storerooms, administrative offices and a banquet hall. The site’s outdoor spaces offer outdoor seating, an amphitheatre, a guardhouse, parking, and a refuse building. The project is the latest of our many initiatives to contribute towards community development using our rich intellectual capital.

As Gauteng Premier, Hon. Panyaza Lesufi said, we hope other institutions of higher learning can maximise the utilisation of these kinds of facilities for the benefit of communities. Indeed, the UJ Devland Campus underscores the University’s values of societal impact, inclusivity, innovation and integrity. To read more about this, click here.

Palaeo-Research Institute

On Monday this week, I had the pleasure of being hosted by UJ’s Palaeo-Research Institute (P-RI) at two crucial sites in the famous Cradle of Humankind, which UNESCO has officially designated as the Fossil Hominid Sites of Sterkfontein, Swartkrans, Kromdraai and Evirons World Heritage Site. From fossil hominin analysis, stone age research, and palaeo-botany to heritage management, UJ’s P-RI offers a complementary set of expertise with a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding the origins and evolution of humanity in sub-Saharan Africa. Of interest during my tour was UJ’s own palaeo-cave site, Drimolen, which has preserved some amazing finds.

In 2015, for instance, the site produced a partial cranium of Homo erectus (DNH 134), which is the first and only known H. erectus species in South Africa. In 2020, through a collaboration between UJ and Latrobe University in Australia, evidence which suggests that at approximately two million years ago, three hominin species lived among each other was discovered. These discoveries signify the importance of our palaeo-research work. Click here to read more about this exciting work.

Global Footprint: Strategic partnerships  

The UJ Department of Social Work and Community Development has been excited to host the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Prof. Gift  Manyatera), Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences (Prof. Chipo  Hungwe), and Head of Social Work (Dr. Noel Muridzo) from Midlands State University for the Global Transformation and Social Work Practice Project.  This project is funded through DAAD to promote global North-South partnerships to address the SDGs. The four partner universities involved in this project are Midlands State University, Dortmund University of Applied Sciences, UKZN, and UJ. A five-day workshop designed to empower MA/PhD students with the tools to publish high-impact academic work was hosted by Prof Tanusha Raniga.

The Department of Social Work and Community Development is also proud to announce that the South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI) has this week honoured Prof Tanusha Raniga with the Social Work Research 2025 Award for her outstanding scholarship and academic citizenship.

UJ CALTSTEAM wins Prestigious Award

Earlier this year, I announced that UJ had launched the Centre for Advanced Learning Technologies in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (CALTSTEAM), the latest of our research entities that demonstrates our commitment to leveraging digital technologies. I am pleased to announce that CALTSTEAM has been announced as the winner of the Triple E Global Award in the category “Innovation and Entrepreneurship Activators of the Year”. The TripleEAwards are an international recognition of excellence in entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education. They honour institutions that drive meaningful impact beyond teaching and research by advancing their third mission — societal engagement and transformation.

Organised by the Accreditation Council for Entrepreneurial and Engaged Universities (ACEEU), the awards are the only globally operating quality assurance initiative dedicated to recognising entrepreneurship and engagement in higher education. I congratulate Professor Umesh Ramnarain and his team for securing this prestigious win. Well done on flying the UJ flag high!

2025 UJ Staff Day

Today is UJ Staff Day! This year’s event will be held under the theme A Legacy of Innovation, A Future of Possibilities, honouring two decades of UJ innovation, excellence and diversity. This event is not just a reflection of UJ’s 20-year history but a celebration of our collective journey to foster equality, inclusivity and excellence. It will be a fun-filled event full of exhibitions, music performances and dance.  Let us unite in the spirit of reflection and inspiration as we acknowledge our commitment to an inclusive university. Do not miss this opportunity to connect, engage, and celebrate our unity and diversity.

UJ Sport and Discovery Vitality team up for Future Forward Fun Run

As previously communicated, tomorrow, Saturday, 20 September 2025, is the newly rebranded UJ Future Forward Fun Run, hosted by our UJ Sport Division in collaboration with Discovery Vitality. Formerly known as the UJ Future Walk, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better, with a fresh burst of energy, Vitality fitness points, and a vibrant mix of Discovery Vitality’s pink to the streets of Auckland Park. This dynamic fun run is a cornerstone of the university’s fundraising efforts, which began in 2015 following the “Fees Must Fall” movement.

The campaign is dedicated to helping cover registration and tuition fees for approximately 5,000 academically deserving and finally needy UJ students. These students do not qualify for full government funding and cannot fund their studies from their own pocket. Do not miss out, tickets available here: UJ Future Forward Fun Run with Discovery Vitality 2025 | Online Entries

High Tea with the VC

As communicated last week, I invite you to the next edition of the hybrid High Tea with the VC book discussion session on Friday, 26 September 2025. As we honour our diverse cultural heritage this September, we will discuss Mr Lebogang Seale’s (Senior Manager: Strategic Communications) book, One Hundred Years of Dispossession: My Family’s Quest to Reclaim Our Land. This award-winning book offers a powerful lens into the impact of land dispossession and the enduring quest for restitution. We will meet at the UJ Library, Chinua Achebe Auditorium, Level 6, APK Campus at 14h00 (CAT). RSVP here.

Ke a leboha, ngiyabonga, thank you, baie dankie!

Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi

Vice-Chancellor and Principal