Graduation: April 2019

Women are the majority of the 9 680 graduands receiving degree certificates from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) between 1 and 9 April 2019.

UKZN will host 22 graduation ceremonies in which 5 510 undergraduate and 4 170 post-graduate degrees will be awarded. There are 787 masters and 276 doctoral graduands.

University management is especially proud of the 117 summa cum laude and 312 cum laude graduands who have completed their studies with distinction.

The percentage of women graduands remains consistently high, at 62%. It is notable that women make up 71% of the summa cum laude and 65% of the cum laude graduands respectively.

The university will also celebrate the achievements of 77 graduands with disabilities.

A total of 1 665 degrees will be conferred in the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, 4 788 in the College of Humanities, 2 188 in the College of Law and Management Studies, and 1 039 in the College of Health Sciences.

UKZN will honour three leading South Africans for their significant contributions in the fields of the arts, economics and social sciences.

Honorary doctorates will be conferred on:

Willie Bester, one of South Africa's most revered resistance artists.

He is recognised internationally for his groundbreaking work during the anti-apartheid movement. Bester's mixed media paintings, canvas assemblages and metal sculptures expressed forced removals, township life and gender oppression. Bester will be capped Doctor of Literature (honoris causa) at 10am on Monday, 1 April, at the Westville campus.

Dr Judy Dlamini, Founder and Executive Chairperson of the Mbekani Group, Chancellor of the University of Witwatersrand, Medical Doctor and Author.

She is recognised for her economic activism and role as one of South Africa's most successful entrepreneurs.

Dlamini will be capped Doctor of Economics (honoris causa) at 10am on Friday, 5 April, at the Westville campus.

Protas Madlala: Anti-apartheid activist who fought for vulnerable people who faced forced removals.

He facilitated the establishment of 'Save St. Wendolines' in the 80s, which was granted permanent 'settlement' status after Madlala spearheaded a petition to the then apartheid Minister of Constitutional Development.

He has led an exemplary, selfless life and was recently in the headlines for sacrificing his personal finances to pay the salaries of employees in the organisation he works for.

Madlala will be capped Doctor of Social Science (honoris causa) at 10am on Tuesday, 9 April, at the Pietermaritzburg campus.

Two academics will each receive the university's Distinguished Teachers' Award. They are Dr Msizi Mkhize in the School of Accounting, Economics and Finance, and Professor Fayth Ruffin in the School of Management, IT & Governance.

The university will host 17 ceremonies at the Sports Centre on the Westville campus from 1 to 6 April, and five ceremonies at the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds, in Pietermaritzburg, from 8 to 9 April.

Author: Sejal Desai