UCT’s Ntokozo Makhaza Earns Dream Springbok call-up

Ikeys Rugby player Ntokozo Makhaza, a standout performer for the UCT Ikey Tigers, was named during June in Rassie Erasmus’ first Springbok squad of the 2025 season as one of the nine uncapped players. The 54-man squad kicked off the reigning back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions with a clash against the Barbarians at Cape Town Stadium on 28 June. Read more about his rise to sporting stardom here. 

To watch the video about the UCT Ikeys Tigers, their passion, their perseverance and potential, click here or on the image below:

 

Triathlon Champ Shines Academically and Athletically 

Rebecca Monk, a third-year student in geology and oceanography has been balancing a challenging academic schedule with her passion for triathlons and earned her Springbok colours for the World Triathlon Championship, where she took part recently. 

Despite the highly competitive nature of triathlons, Monk thrives under pressure. Her training regimen is demanding, involving daily sessions that often span across two disciplines. “I train every day, sometimes twice a day. I can’t picture a day without swimming, cycling, or running – it’s what keeps me grounded,” she explained. This dedication has earned her a spot as the South African duathlon champion for three consecutive years and a third-place finish at the South African Triathlon Championships in 2023. Read more about her success here.  

 

UCT Students fly SA Flag High at UN Sustainable Development Forum 

 

In a significant first for the University of Cape Town (UCT), four students represented South Africa at the 2025 United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF), held at United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York. Their participation marked the first time in several years that a youth delegation formed part of South Africa’s official representation at the forum. 

The students – Nico Pampier, Seabelo Mnisi, Zou Rwexwana and Ben Gukelberger – took part through the United Nations Association of South Africa – UCT Chapter (UNASA-UCT). The forum was held from 14-24 July 2025 and focused on “advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” 

 

UCT Young Investors Shone Brightly in JSE Investment Challenge Amid Market Turmoil 

The June round of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) Investment Challenge showcased the exceptional skill and determination of South Africa’s young investors.  Their disciplined approach and commitment to research underpinned a performance that reflects both deepening financial knowledge and the growing sophistication of young investors across the country. 

 

The ABS5-Pierpoint & Ho team from UCT has shot to the top of the speculator portfolio university category, clocking a solid 11.43% growth on their investment — a remarkable feat despite the challenges of local markets.  Darryl Nyamayaro, a master’s student in financial technology and a returning competitor, admitted that despite dabbling in investing and trading globally as a hobby, navigating South Africa’s market labyrinth was a completely different challenge.  Megan Mworia, a computer science and finance student, did extensive market research before and during the investment process. “Working as a team is better for getting different perspectives,” Nyamayaro said. He admitted to leaning towards riskier moves, while Mworia kept the team grounded on safer bets. It’s a classic investing love story — risk and caution held in a delicate, profitable balance. 

 

Africa Takes the Lead in Blockchain Education Through UCT–UZH Partnership

In a groundbreaking partnership, the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of Zurich (UZH) joined forces to bring the renowned Deep Dive into Blockchain (DDiB) Summer School to African soil for the first time. Held from 30 June to 18 July, the DDiB Summer School took a highly interactive approach. 

Hosted in UCT’s School of Economics in the Faculty of Commerce classrooms, the programme welcomed 40 students from across the continent for on-campus sessions at Africa’s leading university. 

This distinctive educational experience was designed to provide students who could not travel to Switzerland with the opportunity to benefit from the institution's high-quality education and acquire skills that could enhance their career advancement.