Next week CPUT will bestow honorary doctorates on Dr Brigalia Bam and Dr Christo Wiese, two of SA’s most respected citizens, for their outstanding contributions to education and  industry as part of CPUT’s biggest graduation week in its ten year history, with 7,148 students obtaining their caps of which 84 are Masters students and 12 receiving Doctorates. The CPUT April Graduation Series will take place over a full week (13th to 17th April) at CPUT, the largest univeristy in the Western Cape, during 15 separate ceremonies.

It is the first time that the institution will be conferring  honorary doctorates in its new form as a University of Technology.  Dr Brigalia Bam is being honoured with a Doctorate in Education, DEd, at CPUT for her outstanding work as an educator. Bam is best known for her role as the Chairwoman of the Independent Electoral Commission between 1999 and 2011, a position which earned her respect locally and internationally and who received the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation for her election leadership.  She is currently serving as the Chancellor of Walter Sisulu University and previously served as the Chancellor of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University.

CPUT will honour Christo Wiese with a Doctorate in Technologia, Marketing (DTech) for his outstanding contribution to industry. As one of South Africa’s most successful and influential businessmen Wiese needs little introduction. He is currently the controlling shareholder of Shoprite Holdings Limited, Africa’s largest retailer, and serves on the boards of numerous companies.  CPUT Vice-Chancellor Dr Prins Nevhutalu says he is honoured that two individuals with the outstanding profiles of both Bam and Wiese have accepted their honorary doctoral nominations and hopes their outstanding successes will be echoed in the future careers of the many CPUT graduates entering the world of work.

“Dr Brigalia Bam and Dr Christo Wiese are not only being commended for their stellar working careers but also for the contribution they have made to South Africa and its people,” he says. “While career success is the aim of every graduate we also want our students to remember they form part of the greater fabric of South African society and they must do good wherever they go.”  Dr Christo Wiese will be honoured at the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences graduation on Monday April 13 at 9am where he will deliver a keynote address to graduates at the Bellville Campus Major Sports Hall.

Dr Brigalia Bam will be honoured at the Faculty of Education graduation on Tuesday April 14 at 6pm at the Bellville Campus Major Sports Hall where she will address graduates. For more details on the full graduation schedule, including times and venues please see the attached document or contact Lauren Kansley at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 021 953 8646 or 076 1853410. Follow @CPUT on Twitter