KUGOMPO CITY – A date mix-up surrounding a University of South Africa (UNISA) graduation has left students and their families in despair after they arrived at the venue in KuGompo City expecting a full ceremony, only to be handed their certificates in the foyer, with no stage, name-calling or scroll presentation.

A number of UNISA students turned up at the East London International Convention Centre (ICC) on Tuesday, 6 October, expecting to attend a 10:00 ceremony — only to discover it had been moved to the previous day.

The event had already taken place on Monday, 5 October, without them.

There was no graduation ceremony for those who arrived a day later. Staff handed out certificates’ downstairs in the venue’s reception area, with no formal proceedings.

Clene Rudman, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Forensic Science and Technology (Cum Laude), said: ” People were very angry, people were crying, others were swearing, parents were furious and everyone was left heartbroken and disappointed.”

The university confirmed it had notified affected students on Monday, 7 September, that the ceremony would instead take place on Monday, 5 October.

However, it is clear some students did not receive or see that communication.

UNISA said it recognises how deeply students, their families and friends value graduation ceremonies, and expressed regret over the incident.

UNISA announces special ceremony

UNISA announced that the university will host a special graduation ceremony on Friday, 16 October at the Border Conference Centre in KuGompo City. The ceremony aims to accommodate students who were unable to attend the graduation held on Monday, 5 October.

The special ceremony will take place at 12:00 at the Border Conference Centre, Off Wyse Avenue, Abbotsford, KuGompo City.

UNISA Media Affairs in the Department of Institutional Advancement (DIA), reiterated that the university had communicated the date change on 7 September, but acknowledged that some students missed that communication.

It did not address refunds, reimbursements or travel costs for affected families.

Heartbreak for graduates

Thuthula Sodumo, a paraplegic wheelchair user and recognised disability rights activist, completed her Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Gender Studies (Cum Laude). She also lives in Stutterheim, 77km to 85.5km away from the venue.

She described the incident as “the heartbreak of my life.”

Commenting on UNISA’s intention to redo the graduation, Sodumo said she felt that many family members would not be able to attend a second time because of the expenses involved.

For families who had already made the journey to KuGompo City, the cost of returning would be difficult to meet.

Rudman explained that she would be unable to attend the graduation for a second time, as it cost her R1 000 to travel from Gqeberha to KuGompo City to attend the event.

“I feel heartbroken and robbed of a once-in-a-lifetime moment I worked four years for. I will never have that experience of walking on a podium in front of my parents. Most of all for myself, it does not even feel like I have graduated.”

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