Prof Robert Balfour and Prof Anesh Singh welcomed guests at the event.

The city of Bloemfontein witnessed the beginning of a new chapter in the University of the Western Cape’s (UWC) alumni engagement. Hosted by the Alumni Office, the event brought together graduates from the Free State for an evening of, reconnection, and renewed commitment to the values that define.

It was also the first alumni engagement under the leadership of Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Balfour, who is set to mark his first 100 days in office this month.

More than just a reunion, the gathering launched Prof Balfour’s national alumni roadshow - an initiative aimed at strengthening ties with graduates across South Africa and beyond. The tour will continue in the months ahead, with stops planned in the Cape Metro, Gqeberha, Kimberley, Johannesburg and Namibia.

In his keynote address, Prof Balfour expressed deep appreciation for the warm welcome he received and reminded alumni that graduation was not the end of their relationship with the University. “Although your graduation caps were thrown into the air many years ago your relationship with UWC didn’t end there. In many ways, that was just the beginning,” he said.

“You are more than ambassadors — you are co-architects of this university’s legacy. Your support, your presence, and your generosity show that UWC’s impact stretches well beyond the borders of Cape Town.”
 

Motale Nkgoang, Deputy Chairperson of the Bloemfontein Alumni Working Committee.

Addressing the broader challenges in higher education, he reaffirmed UWC’s mission to remain a beacon of hope for the marginalised.  “We must never allow UWC to become a lifeboat for the privileged. It must remain a place of transformation, equity and opportunity.”

Motale Nkgoang, Deputy Chairperson of the Bloemfontein Alumni Working Committee, welcomed the Rector and Vice-Chancellor on behalf of the local network:  “Prof, we are with you. We support you. You can count on the Bloemfontein alumni to walk with you as you lead UWC forward.”

Interim Chairperson, George Gabuza, offered a heartfelt reflection on the impact UWC had on his life and those of his peers:  “We are all beneficiaries of the UWC Transformation Agenda. For many of us, it was where we found our voice - where we became part of South Africa’s educated class. It was also the first time we knew the security of three meals a day.”

He spoke of the sacrifices made to access higher education and the responsibility alumni feel to give back.  “We remember what it was like to scrape together registration fees. Those experiences drive us to support others. This university shaped us, and we want to be part of shaping it for future generations.”

Gabuza also shared the Bloemfontein network’s goal to expand beyond its founding cohort of 1985–1995 alumni to include graduates from more recent decades, ensuring that the culture of giving back continues to grow.

He challenged the group:  “By December 2025, at least 25 of us should be contributing to the UWC Legacy Fund. Let’s lead by example.”

In a lighter moment, Gabuza joked that many students experienced the comfort of three meals a day for the first time at UWC. But this moment of humour was soon met with sobering truth as Professor Anesh Singh, Director of Institutional Advancement, reflected on the current struggles of many students who now face hunger and hardship daily.

Prof Singh made an impassioned call to action:  “The Free State is known as the breadbasket of South Africa; I urge you to identify and engage suppliers and manufacturers of food products who can contribute to the UWC Foodbank. Even the smallest contribution can ease a student’s burden and help them succeed.”

The tone throughout the evening was one of solidarity, gratitude, and purpose. Prof Balfour captured this sentiment in his closing remarks, quoting Archbishop Desmond Tutu:  “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world….Your commitment, your energy, your love for UWC—these are the little bits of good that will carry this university forward.

As Prof Balfour’s national roadshow continues, the Bloemfontein engagement stands as a powerful start—proof that the UWC alumni community remains bound by shared history, values, and an enduring hope for the future.