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As Rhodes University celebrates its Autumn Graduation, Chancellor Justice Lex Mpati is bowing out from the role he has assumed for the past 12 years. Justice Mpati, the first former Rhodes University student to become Chancellor and second Black student to graduate with an LLB from the University, championed judicial integrity, education, and transformation. His tenure as Chancellor marks an era of profound impact.

Rhodes University welcomed its alumna, Minister of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, on the 31st of March 2025 for a visit aimed at discussing key education initiatives and engaging with students. The event, which took place at the Big Lecture Theatre in the Faculty of Education, underscored the University’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with national education authorities.

In an intimate and profoundly symbolic ceremony, Rhodes University formally robed Dr Nontsikelelo (Ntsiki) Biko with the academic gown befitting her Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa), conferred during the University’s virtual graduation in 2021. The robing, delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, occurred at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg.

“Today I would like to salute you, Sisi Ntsiki, for being a woman that you have been to all of us. A woman of integrity. You lived an exemplary life and you became a role model for all of us. I know some of us will never do, in our lifetime, even half of what you have done for your people.” - Sibongile Qaba, 2021

In Psalm 118, verse 24, the psalmist reminds us that this is the day that the LORD has made and that we should rejoice and be glad in it.

I would like to thank Rhodes University for the honour it has bestowed upon me through the award of an Honorary Doctor of Laws. I was told that this is in recognition of my contribution as a dedicated community activist and for devoting my life to the upliftment of the poor and marginalised.

As the new academic year begins, students embark on their undergraduate and postgraduate studies, while early-career academics consider their next steps in research and professional development. To support them on this journey, Rhodes University hosted a two-day engagement event, led by Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships, Dr. Kwezi Mzilikazi, alongside Honorary Professor Stephanie Burton and Dr. Mandy Hlengwa. The event provided a blend of strategic insights, practical guidance, and hands-on training to help participants strengthen their academic careers.

The Rhodes University Theatre came alive on the 20th of March with a bold and innovative fusion of theatre and lived student experience in a production titled RU Game. Presented by the Rhodes University Drama Department in collaboration with the Division of 中国足彩网 and Development, the performance offered a thought-provoking and immersive simulation that mirrored the realities of university life — all through the powerful medium of performance.

Several past and present students can attest that being part of the Law Faculty is undoubtedly a rigorous journey, but it is also gratifying and filled with growth. Despite the rainy weather, the Rhodes University Law Faculty still managed to host its annual "Market Day" on Friday, 14th March. The gazebo was packed to the brim, alive with the energy of young, ambitious minds eager as ever. St Peter's Lawn offered a scenic landscape bustling with students taking every opportunity to network with potential employers, mingle with their peers, and get a taste of what their futures would look like.

Getting into university is a critical and often difficult transition; hence, Rhodes University is committed to supporting those starting with the help they need to successfully transition to this new stage of their life. The Pathways to Success – Conversations with First-Year Students program under Professor ‘Mabokang Monnapula-Mapesela, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academic and Student Affairs, is a key program to bring to their studies and life the resources they will require to succeed.

Rhodes University hosted its annual Commerce Extended Studies Programme (CESP) welcome function at the Amazwi Literary Museum on the 11th of March 2025 in collaboration with Investec. The event warmly welcomed first-year students, introducing them to Investec's invaluable support throughout their academic journey.

The Peer Educators programme at Rhodes University is an initiative dedicated to student well-being, leadership development, and social impact. Established under Higher Health in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), this initiative empowers students to support their peers in navigating various challenges, including mental health, sexual and reproductive health, LGBTQIA+ rights, and gender diversity. The programme has become integral to student life by fostering a sense of community and responsibility.

The RU Water Wonders was a team of dedicated students from Rhodes University who participated in the 7th edition of the Water4Future Student Hackathon, organised by the UNESCO International Centre on Freshwater (ICIREWARD) in Montpellier.

Rhodes University is set to host its Autumn Graduation between 2 and 4 April 2025, a momentous occasion honouring the achievements of its graduates while recognising four distinguished individuals with honorary doctorates. Adding to the significance of this year’s ceremony, the University bids farewell to its esteemed Chancellor, Justice Lex Mpati, after more than a decade of inspiring students and young graduates through transformative leadership.

Associate Professor in Political and International Studies at Rhodes University, Siphokazi Magadla has been named a joint winner of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) Humanities Book Award in the Established Scholar category, marking the fourth accolade for her acclaimed book, Guerrillas and Combative Mothers: Women and the Armed Struggle in South Africa.

On the 11th of March, Distinguished Professor Tebello Nyokong was honoured at Diocesan School for Girls (DSG) in Makhanda through a tree planting ceremony, an annual tradition recognising individuals who have significantly impacted education and the community. Observed on International Women's Day, the ceremony inspires the learners at DSG as it acknowledges the inspirational women who are influencing their world.

When South Africa’s MeerKAT radio telescope was switched on in 2018, it cemented itself as one of the world’s most powerful astronomical instruments, capable of uncovering deep cosmic mysteries. Behind its success is a network of engineers and astronomers who worked tirelessly to fine-tune its performance. Among them is Dr Benjamin Hugo, a key player in the commissioning and science verification of MeerKAT and one of the country’s leading experts on its use.

“Africa hasn’t mattered,” declared Wits academic, Dr Westen Kwatemba Shilaho during a thought-provoking seminar hosted by the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University.

On Wednesday, 26 February 2025, Rhodes University’s School of Languages & Literatures and the Political & International Studies department hosted the launch of Izimpabanga Zomhlaba (The Wretched of the Earth), Frantz Fanon’s seminal work translated into isiZulu by Dr Makhosazana Xaba. Dr Xaba received an honorary doctorate from Rhodes University in 2022.

In a rare moment of coming full circle, Rhodes University will honour Mrs. Nontsikelelo (Ntsiki) Biko by robing her at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg in the Eastern Cape on Thursday, 27 March 2025.