The University of the Western Cape (UWC) conferred seven honorary doctorates at a ceremony on Friday at the Old Mutual Conference Centre in Kirstenbosch, recognising figures in education, women’s rights, human rights and international justice.
Among those honoured was Charlotte Maxeke, who received a posthumous honorary doctorate. Maxeke was the first black South African woman to earn a university degree, graduating with a BSc from Wilberforce University in Ohio. She founded the Bantu Women’s League in 1918, a forerunner of the ANC Women’s League, and died at the age of 68.
Thulasizwe Makhanya, Maxeke’s great-grandson through her sister Katie, told the ceremony it was the first time she had received such an honour since 1994. “We are thrilled that, for the first time since our democracy, this icon who opened doors for women is being honoured by UWC,” he said. “This will mean the younger generation will be inspired by this woman, who travelled thousands of kilometres from home to get an education.”
Mandisa Monakali, who founded the organisation Ilitha Labantu in Gugulethu in 1989 and died of cancer in 2024 at the age of 64, was also posthumously honoured for her contributions to women’s rights.
Former International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor, who became chancellor of Nelson Mandela University on April 1, was among the recipients. “I feel like I’m back home somewhat,” she said. “I hope that I will get to have a fuller role in Nelson Mandela University.” She added: “I’m still a new chancellor, but it’s a brilliant institution, and of course I’ve always loved education, and so to work closely with academics and students is a great pleasure.”
Pandor also spoke about the significance of the award: “The moment I received the call, the thought was about the historic character of the University of the Western Cape and its contribution to our struggle for freedom.”
Advocate Adila Hassim, who was part of the legal team that argued South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in January 2024 and co-founded the public interest law group Section27, received an honorary doctorate. “It’s really very special coming from UWC,” she said. “The values of UWC resonate with me, and so it’s a very special honour indeed. I’m very thankful.”
Francesca Albanese, the UN Human Rights Council’s special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories since 2022, was also honoured. Pandor praised her work: “I think she’s done a sterling job in the role of special rapporteur on Palestine.” She noted the challenges Albanese had faced, saying, “I know it’s been a very challenging role for her, because of the resistance to the acknowledgement that the Palestinian people do not enjoy freedom, justice or democracy.” Pandor added: “And of course she’s had very terrible experiences of sanctions against her, and her family threats and intimidation. But even in the face of that, she has remained true to her task.”
In July 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions against Albanese. A Washington district judge granted an injunction against the sanctions in May, and the Treasury took her off its blacklist on 20 May. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit later ruled that the sanctions would remain in force while her family’s legal challenge continued.
Mary Robinson, the first woman elected president of Ireland, serving from 1990 to 1997, and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002, was recognised for her work in human rights and global justice.
Mathematician Loyiso Nongxa, vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand from 2003 to 2013, was honoured for his contributions to education. He described himself as a “token male” alongside the prominent female honorees. His daughter, Buhle Nongxa, said: “My dad has always just been my dad, and the best at that by the way, but as I’ve gotten older and gotten to know him as a person outside of me, as the educator, as the mathematician, as the philanthropist, I could go on and on, I have constantly been inspired and in awe of how he is the best and shows up this way everywhere he goes.”
UWC rector and vice-chancellor Professor Robert Balfour said the university conferred honorary degrees sparingly. “Our honorary graduates include figures closely connected to SA’s struggle for democracy,” he said. “Among them are Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Albertina Sisulu and Albie Sachs.” He added that an honorary degree from the university “has therefore long expressed solidarity, as well as inspired admiration.”