Cape Town - For the first time in two years, students at UWC can proudly be part of a graduation ceremony where both family and their educational staff can be present.
Along with celebrating their achievements, they have remembered late fellow student Jesse Hess.
During the two-year pandemic, the university hosted virtual graduation ceremonies.
Today, slain theology student Jesse Hess was also remembered.
The graduation ceremonies will take place between March 28 and April 1.
Hess and her grandfather, Chris Lategan, were found murdered in their Parow flat after an apparent armed robbery in August 2019.
The two were strangled to death and Hess was raped.
The trial against David van Boven and his co-accused Tasliem “Boontjie” Ambrose is under way in the Cape High Court.
UWC Rector and Vice-Chancellor Professor Tyrone Pretorius themed this the “In Memoriam” graduation.
It was to remember Hess and the university’s former chancellor Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who died last year.
“As we celebrate, we also pause and remember our colleagues, our students, family and friends, fellow South Africans and the world’s citizens who have succumbed,” he said.
UWC Registrar Dr Nita Lawton-Misra said it was everyone’s duty to remember victims of gender-based violence.
“As we celebrate our students’ success, I believe it is so important to commit ourselves to fight gender-based violence.
“Not only for Jesse’s sake, but for all the others.
"Graduating with a university qualification is a momentous occasion in any person's life, be it the first or last qualification. All point to growth and result in a better quality of life. And when students graduate under circumstances that present more than the usual challenges, then the achievements reach a new level of pride and celebration. I salute all students who rose above the prevailing pandemic conditions and emerged victorious. Your strength and resilience bode well for your future success. Congratulations!"
Georgia Smit, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Education degree, said the years before had come with many challenges and that they had succeeded.
“It is such an honour to graduate in person,” she said.
“As first- and second-year students, we had the privilege of witnessing previous graduation ceremonies, and it was something we have been looking forward to since we started our journey at UWC.
“These past four years came with many unexpected challenges; therefore, the in-person graduation makes all the hard work we've put in so worth it.”
Siya Monakali of Ilitha Labantu, an organisation which fights against GBV, told the Weekend Argus that it was a reality that rape and murders had rocketed.
“Violence against women has reached pandemic rates in South Africa. Not a day goes by without hearing of the rape or murder of women.
“This sad reality paints a picture of a society that preys on its women, and in spite the fact that South Africa has one of the world's most progressive constitutions with laws and legislation that seek to protect the rights and dignity of women and vulnerable persons, the nation still has a femicide rate that is five times the global average.
“The unjust murder of Jesse Hess is one murder too many. As a society we ought to work together to collectively address all acts of violence perpetrated on women and children.
“And as an organisation we stand in solidarity with all victims and survivors of violence and abuse and call for strong action to be taken on those who perpetrate these crimes on women and children. We also appeal to our justice system to impose the harshest sentences on those found guilty of violating women and children as this will send a strong message out to society that we do not tolerate these atrocious acts committed on women.”
Weekend Argus