The Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, is steadfast in preparing for its spring graduation ceremony set for 1 September. This ceremony will go ahead as planned, amidst threats by a group of unhappy students to disrupt the upcoming event.
According to a statement by the university, 228 undergraduates, 23 master’s, and six doctorate degree recipients will walk the red carpet in the Boet Troskie Hall on the Bloemfontein campus.
The ceremony will be held for six faculties, namely the faculties of Humanities; Engineering, Built Environment, and Information Technology (FEBIT); Humanities and FEBIT (IT); Management Science; Engineering and Information Technology; and Health and Environmental Science.
This ceremony will see far fewer undergraduates in attendance. This is due to the exclusion of about 500 candidates, apparently due to their failure to submit required documents such as a matric certificate and a copy of their ID.
The affected group of students were seen protesting on Friday (25/08), in front of the main entrance of the university’s premises in Bloemfontein. Some disputed the claim that they did not submit the required documents when they enrolled as first-year students, four years ago. They expressed grave concern that they will not be graduating at the apex of their studies, and further want the ceremony postponed to 13 October so as to be added to the list of degree recipients.
This will be the second graduation ceremony to be graced by Prof. Pamela Dube, vice-chancellor and principal, who officially took office in February this year. In the first graduation ceremony, she led a cohort of 3 756 graduates over four days at the two campuses in Bloemfontein and Welkom.
The university will also confer an honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Management Sciences (Business Administration) to businessman and head of Vodacom, Shameel Joosub.
This is in recognition of his contribution to the business over the span of 28 years. Joosub serves on the Vodacom and Vodafone executive committees in his capacity as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Vodacom Group Ltd., a position he has held since 2012.
