The University of the Western Cape has rejected a proposal to rename itself after Allan Boesak. The idea came from the Thinking Masses of South Africa Foundation. This affects the university, the foundation, and Boesak’s supporters. The decision ties into current debates about apartheid’s legacy and how institutions should be named, as of March 25, 2026.
The University of the Western Cape turned down the proposal. The Thinking Masses of South Africa Foundation put it forward. They have pushed for the change since 2018.
The rename aimed to honor Allan Boesak’s 80th birthday. It also recognized his role in fighting apartheid. Boesak helped transform the university in the 1980s. These facts come from reports on the foundation’s efforts.
Dr. Clyde Ramalain spoke about the issue. He said the current name has roots in apartheid. It was not chosen by students.
“I just don’t think they are [honest] in that regard. An honest reflection would suggest that the name ‘University of the Western Cape’ was not decided by students of the Western Cape in any era. It was decided by the apartheid government for a particular reason at a particular time, with political content of a particular type.”
Ramalain added more on the name’s meaning.
“It is just that this name symbolises, identifies, congregates, and brings together a particular struggle.”
He shared these views in a talk with CapeTalk’s Clarence Ford.
The rejection adds to talks about colonial legacies. A similar backlash hit a renaming plan in Graaff-Reinet. Boesak’s long fight against apartheid stays key here. The foundation’s years of work show the push for change.
No new steps are set after the rejection. A topic timeline tracks related stories. Trending news may bring updates soon. An audio clip of Ramalain’s full talk with Clarence Ford offers more detail for those interested.
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