Dear UJ community,
This week, on Thursday, 24 September, marks one of my favourite days on the national calendar. South Africans will celebrate Heritage Day, formerly known as Shaka Day and sometimes called Braai Day. Our rich and diverse cultural heritage will come into full display – from our tapestry of traditions and languages to art and cuisine. The day is a culmination of Heritage Month, as September is known.
UJ Staff Day: Celebrating Heritage Month and 21 Years of Impact
Our celebration of Heritage Month was evident at our annual UJ Staff Day this past Friday. A flagship event for employee engagement, the day brought together colleagues from across various faculties and departments who shared their histories, cultures and achievements. This year’s event was held under the theme “21 Years of Impact,” as part of the celebration of institutional excellence and the recognition of employees whose dedication continues to shape the University’s future. As usual, it was an unforgettable experience, with faculties, departments and divisions showcasing their creativity, identity and contribution to the UJ community.
Each faculty and division had the opportunity to participate in two competition categories: a stage performance on the main stage and a field performance (exhibitions). While there were only a few winners, the big winner was the entire UJ Community. Ultimately, the event was an important reminder that preserving these cultural elements is essential for maintaining our nation’s unique identity. I invite you to read a thought-leadership (opinion) article on the significance of Heritage Month that I wrote in 2023. You may read it here.
2026 UJ Prizes winners for isiZulu and Sesotho sa Leboa/Sepedi Announced
In keeping with the spirit of Heritage Month, the winners of the 2026 UJ Prizes for the prestigious isiZulu and Sesotho sa Leboa/Sepedi books were announced on Tuesday this week. The winner of the UJ Prize IsiZulu prize is Mr S.O.Z Mkhize for his novel Impilo Engcono. The novel tackles pertinent issues facing the LGBTQI+ community. Sex and gender fluidity, as we know, is a huge challenge in traditional societies where people expect heterosexual relationships and marriages despite what the Constitution prescribes. Mr Kobate John Sekele was named the winner of the 2026 UJ Main Prize in Sesotho sa Leboa/Sepedi for his novel Hlokalang Diphure. The book is a detective novel, and it has fulfilled all the requirements of a detective-style of writing.
Meanwhile, two prizes were awarded for the UJ Debut Prizes in IsiZulu and Sesotho sa Leboa. Mr B.P Basi was named the winner of the 2026 UJ Debut Prize for isiZulu for his book Igugu Lomzansi, while Ms Thobja Blessing Morokolo was named the winner of the Sesotho sa Leboa/Sepedi prize for her short stories and folktales book Re Lahlile Bohwa le Setšo. Mr Basi’s book traces the origins of indigenous peoples who currently reside in Southern Africa, with particular emphasis on the Nguni groupings, while Ms Morokolo’s book is a mixture of folktales and short stories, making it distinctive, as this combination is rarely seen. Congratulations to all the winners, well done colleagues! To read more about this, click here.
Spring Graduations and Honorary Doctorates
As part of the Spring Graduation ceremonies that began last week, UJ will confer honorary doctorates next week, on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, on Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation and Education Above All and Justice Sisi Khampepe. Honorary doctorates are the highest accolades a university can confer on distinguished individuals whose leadership and achievements have reshaped industries, influenced society and global discourse or advanced knowledge beyond traditional academic pathways. The honorary doctorate on Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser is in recognition of 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.
Justice Sisi Khampepe will be honoured for 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. The two are among the distinguished individuals to be conferred with honorary doctorates this year. You can read the full list here. This graduation season comprises seven ceremonies, with more than 1000 graduands walking across the stage to receive their qualifications. Three hundred and fifteen (315) of the graduands will graduate with Master’s qualifications, while 83 will receive their doctoral degrees. Congratulations to all the graduands!
Media and Publicity
I invite you to read my latest thought leadership (opinion) article that appeared in Business Day yesterday, titled “Is corruption a reflection of our collective identity?” In it, I reflect on the third Combating Corruption Summit that UJ hosted last month, with a special focus on what kind of self makes corruption thinkable in the first place. I argue that this is a question this country cannot afford to keep deferring, especially considering what is unfolding at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System.
I then make the point that it would be easy to read all of what is transpiring there as confirmation that corruption is a technical and institutional failure created by weak oversight of police contracts, poor vetting of senior appointments and intelligence structures insufficiently insulated from political interference. However, if our diagnosis stops there, our remedies will always be one step behind the next scheme, because underneath every technical failure sits a prior, relational one: people, acting on a particular understanding of who they are and to whom they are answerable, corrupt systems. You can read the full article here.
Celebrating Sport Achievements
We continue to celebrate outstanding achievements by our various sporting codes. This was highlighted by our Senior Women’s Netball Team, which secured a spot in the Varsity Netball tournament final. Demonstrating remarkable tenacity throughout a gruelling schedule of away fixtures across Stellenbosch, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Bloemfontein, the Orange Army clinched a dramatic 57-54 extra-time victory against the University of Free State on Monday, 21 September 2026. This thrilling semi-final win – following a 47-47 tie at the end of the four quarters – stands as a testament to the dedication and leadership of Head Coach Bongiwe Msomi, her technical support staff, and the inspiring players who fought relentlessly for the result. They will face North-West University in the final in Mahikeng on Monday night, 28 September 2026. Congratulations, Orange Army!
Building on this momentum, the UJ Men’s Football Team is set to host the University of Pretoria at the UJ Soweto Stadium on Friday, 25 September 2026, for their own Varsity Football semi-final clash. Having topped the log from the start of the tournament with a strong record of five victories, one draw, and just a single loss, UJ Football enters the high-stakes match in prime position to advance to the final. As the broader University community enjoys the scheduled UJ Holiday, our full support and best wishes go out to the team as they aim to cap off an exceptional season at the top of the competition. Meanwhile, our UJ student contingent that was in Cairo, Egypt, has brought home a remarkable 27-medal tally from the 12th All Africa University Games. Congratulations to Ms. Nomsa Mahlangu (Senior Director: UJ Sport) and the entire club management team for their outstanding leadership. Visit our website, www.news.uj.ac.za for more on this and other UJ Sport achievements.
Lastly, Thursday is Heritage Day, and Friday is a special University holiday. I therefore wish you a restful and pleasant long weekend. Till next week, take care!
Kea leboha, ngiyabonga, baie dankie, thank you!
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi: Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Times mentioned in this newsletter refer to the South African time-zone.
