The

Chancellor Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...

of the

University of Cape Town The University of Cape Town (UCT) ( af, Universiteit van Kaapstad, xh, Yunibesithi ya yaseKapa) is a public research university in Cape Town, South Africa. Established in 1829 as the South African College, it was granted full university statu ...

(UCT) is the ceremonial head of the university, representing it in the public sphere and conferring degrees in its name. The Chancellorship is a

titular Titular may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Title character in a narrative work, the character referred to in its title Religion * Titular (Catholicism), a cardinal who holds a titulus, one of the main churches of Rome ** Titular bisho ...

position; the chief executive of the university is the Vice-Chancellor. The current Chancellor, the sixth since UCT was elevated to university status in 1918, is

Precious Moloi-Motsepe Precious Moloi-Motsepe (born 2 August 1964) is a South African philanthropist and fashion entrepreneur. One of the richest women in South Africa she started her career as a medical practitioner, specializing in children and women’s health. In S ...

. She is succeeding

Graça Machel Graça Machel (; née Simbine; , born 17 October 1945) is a Mozambican politician and humanitarian. She is the widow of former President of Mozambique Samora Machel (1975–1986) and former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela (1998–20 ...

, the wife of South African ex-President

Nelson Mandela Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela (; ; 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) was a South African anti-apartheid activist who served as the first president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999. He was the country's first black head of state and the ...

who served as chancellor from 1999 until 2019. If there are multiple nominations the Chancellor is chosen by an electoral college representing staff, students and graduates. Formerly Chancellors were appointed for life, but since 1999 they are appointed for a renewable ten-year term.

List of chancellors

*1918–1936: H.R.H. the Prince of Wales (the future Edward VIII) *1936–1950: Field Marshal

Jan Smuts Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts, (24 May 1870 11 September 1950) was a South African statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various military and cabinet posts, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Af ...

*1950–1967: The Hon. Mr Justice Albert van der Sandt Centlivres *1967–1999:

Harry Oppenheimer Harry Frederick Oppenheimer (28 October 1908 – 19 August 2000) was a prominent South African businessman, industrialist and philanthropist. Oppenheimer was often ranked as one of the wealthiest people in the world, and was considered South A ...

*1999–2019:

*2020–present:

List of chancellors

References