Stellenbosch University
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Virtual conferral of qualifications
Author: Dr Ronel Retief: Registrateur/Registrar ​
Published: 31/03/2020

​​​31 March 2020

Dear SU graduand

Issuing of graduation documents and virtual conferral of qualifications

As is the case in many parts of the world, South Africans are currently experiencing a state of national lockdown that came into effect at midnight on Thursday 26 March 2020 to curb the spreading of the COVID-19 virus. This followed after the cancellation of Stellenbosch University's March/April graduation ceremonies had been announced earlier.

To celebrate this important milestone in your life despite the disappointment of this week's graduation ceremonies being cancelled, we invite all graduands to a virtual conferral of qualifications on Friday 3 April 2020 at 14:00. Graduands and their family and friends will be able to follow the virtual proceedings online. Qualifications are being awarded in absentia by the new SU Chancellor, retired Judge Edwin Cameron. Judge Cameron, Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor, and the Registrar, Dr Ronel Retief will also follow the proceedings online.

March/April graduands will still have the opportunity to participate in the December graduation ceremonies, depending on the prevailing circumstances at that time.

A link to the virtual proceedings will be published on the SU homepage (www.sun.ac.za) on Friday morning. A video recording will also be made available on the webpage for those who would like to watch it afterwards.

The national lockdown also affects our postal service – and unfortunately therefore also the delivery of your certificate and other documentation. With the exception of medical deliveries, postal and courier services are not considered to be essential services.

We are currently investigating the possibility of providing graduation documentation electronically to those who urgently need their documents – thus, before the national lockdown is lifted. Further information in this regard will be published on the SU website as soon as it becomes available.

We would like to thank you in advance for your understanding during this difficult period. We undertake to keep you informed about the distribution of graduation documents as the situation unfolds over the next few weeks.

Kind regards

Dr Ronel Retief

Registrar ​