This year
Stellenbosch University (SU) will bestow honorary doctorates on four thought
leaders who have made an exceptional contribution to society both internationally
and in South Africa: a famous South African documentary photographer, artist, activist
and historian; a prominent medical researcher who has carried out pioneering
research on an HIV vaccine; a former judge of the Supreme Court of South
Africa; and a born-and-bred Stellenboscher who has had a huge impact worldwide
in promoting more sustainable societies.
The
recipients to be honoured in this way are Mr Omar Badsha and Professors Glenda
Gray, Mervyn King and Markus Reuter. The Council approved the honorary doctorates at its meeting in September
and the degrees will be awarded at the institution’s Graduation Ceremonies in December
2017 and in March 2018.
“It is a privilege for us to honour the recipients in this way.
They have made it their life’s work to enrich the lives of others. Now it is
time to recognise them as excellent role models to us all,” says Prof Wim de
Villiers, SU Rector and Vice-Chancellor.
SU confers honorary
doctorates to acknowledge excellence in a variety of fields as well as to
identify the individuals concerned as role models for the University community.
- Click here for more about the recipients.
- Photos: Prof Markus Reuter (Copyright HZDR), Prof Glenda Gray, Mr Omar Badsha (photo credit: Mads Norgaar) and Prof Mervyn King