Why UWC chose to keep its name instead of honouring Allan Boesak
The University of the Western Cape has rejected a proposal to rename the institution after theologian and anti-apartheid activist Allan Aubrey Boesak, saying it will retain its current name linked to its geographical identity.
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The University of the Western Cape has turned down a proposal to rename the institution after Allan Boesak, a prominent theologian and anti-apartheid activist.
The university said that it prefers to keep its long-established name, which is linked to its geographical identity.
The proposal was submitted in February by The Thinking Masses of South Africa Foundation (TMoSAF), led by Bishop Dr Clyde N. S. Ramalaine, as part of a campaign marking Boesak’s 80th birthday.
The foundation argued that renaming the university would recognise Boesak’s “lifelong and transformative contributions to justice, scholarship, liberation theology, and global transformative leadership.”
However, in a formal response dated March 11, UWC’s registrar Dr Nita Lawton-Misra, writing on behalf of the university’s senior management, said the institution had considered the proposal but decided against changing its name.
“The University’s Senior Management has given the matter careful consideration, including taking note of written views expressed by members of our alumni and the public,” Lawton-Misra said.
“After deliberation, the University’s view is that it would be preferable to retain its current name.”
According to the university, the name has become closely linked to its identity and reputation over several decades.
“The University has carried this name since the 1960s, and over the decades it has become strongly associated with the institution’s identity, reputation, and academic standing, both nationally and internationally,” the letter states.
Lawton-Misra added that the name also reflects the university’s location and inclusivity.
The University of the Western Cape has rejected a proposal to rename the institution after prominent theologian and anti-apartheid activist Allan Aubrey Boesak.
Image: Tracey Adams/ Independent News
“Most notably, the name, University of the Western Cape, significantly reflects the University’s geographical location, which provides a neutral and inclusive point of reference for the diverse communities that the University serves.”
The university emphasised that the decision should not be interpreted as a dismissal of Boesak’s legacy.
“Our decision to retain the current name should not be interpreted as a lack of respect for Dr Boesak. On the contrary, we hold deep regard for the legacy of all who have contributed to the advancement of our society, as Dr Boesak has done.”
The university also noted that it had previously recognised Boesak’s contributions by awarding him an honorary doctorate in 2021.
But the foundation behind the proposal has pushed back against the decision, questioning both the process followed and the reasoning provided by the university.
In a written response to the registrar, Ramalaine said the university’s letter omitted what he described as a key historical detail.
“It would be incomplete not to note that the correspondence omits a critical historical detail: that recognition came through the initiation and advocacy of the Thinking Masses of South Africa Foundation rather than emerging organically from the University’s own institutional consciousness,” he said.
Ramalaine also called for transparency around the consultation process used to reach the decision.
He further questioned the argument that retaining the university’s name is necessary for institutional identity and neutrality.
“Institutional identity is not static; it is historical, evolving, and continually renegotiated,” Ramalaine said, adding that UWC itself had evolved from an apartheid-era institution into “a site of intellectual dissent, critical scholarship, and liberation thought.”
The foundation also raised concerns about whether external stakeholders such as donors may have influenced the outcome, asking the university to clarify “which structures deliberated on the proposal” and how different stakeholders were consulted.
Despite the rejection, TMoSAF said it will continue campaigning for the renaming of the university.