CAPE TOWN – The University of the Western Cape has formally rejected a proposal to rename the institution after liberation theologian Allan Boesak, stating that retaining its current name ensures continuity whilst honouring his legacy.
Gasant Abarder, spokesperson for UWC, said the university had acknowledged the proposal respectfully but resolved to retain its current name.
According to Abarder, the university’s name is integral to its identity, reputation, and inclusivity. The institution believes that maintaining the current name ensures continuity whilst still being able to honour Dr Allan Boesak’s legacy.
The response comes after The Thinking Masses of South Africa Foundation (TMoSA), led by Bishop Dr Clyde N.S. Ramalaine, formally approached the university in February with the renaming proposal.
Original proposal details
TMoSA had argued that Boesak maintained a generational relationship with UWC that shaped students, faculty ethics, and the institution’s moral compass. The foundation cited his work during the apartheid era, particularly in the 1980s, as aligning with UWC’s ethos of academic pursuit, spiritual inquiry, and social justice activism.
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The proposal described Boesak as exemplifying “praxis: scholarship fused with activism to challenge oppression, reimagine justice, and model accountability.”
UWC awarded Boesak an Honorary Doctorate in 2021, which the proposal described as “long overdue” recognition of his contributions. The 80-year-old liberation theologian is internationally respected for his theological work and his role in South Africa’s liberation struggle.
