On Wednesday afternoon, Stellenbosch offered a near-perfect stage for one of the highlights in the University’s academic calendar. The mountains glowed in the late summer light, a gentle breeze cut through the heat, and the Danie Craven Stadium pulsed with anticipation as more than 6 000 maroon-clad first-year and new postgraduate students gathered for Stellenbosch University’s (SU) official Welcoming ceremony.

Long before the formal programme began, Coetzenburg was already alive with sound and colour. MC Ayanda Mlatsha, Cluster Education Coordinator at the Centre for Student Life and Learning, energetically assisted by SU’s mascot Pokkel, rallied the different student clusters to the beat of a DJ Brendt Wayne de Wet, punctuated by waves of voices calling out “Maaaaties!” from the stands.

Members of the Rectorate, faculty deans, senior management, student leaders and representatives of other University structures joined parents and families for the occasion. The guest of honour was Stellenbosch’s Executive Mayor Councillor Jeremy Fasser.

A first Welcoming for a new Rector

At the heart of the celebration was a symbolic milestone for the institution: the first official Welcoming led by SU’s new Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath.

Addressing the packed stadium, Ramjugernath began by acknowledging the setting. “I’m sure no one will disagree with me that we are here at probably one of the most beautiful backdrops,” he said, gesturing towards the Jonkershoek mountain range behind him. To loud cheers, he noted that the SU campus was recently recognised as one of the top 10 most beautiful university campuses in the world.

Welcoming parents, guardians and supporters, Ramjugernath thanked them for the role they had played in bringing students to this moment. He also acknowledged staff and student leaders for their daily work in sustaining SU as a leading institution on the continent and beyond.

Turning to the incoming class, he reminded students that competition for university places had been particularly fierce following the matric class of 2025’s record national pass rate. “It is an acknowledgement of your hard work, your determination and your perseverance that you are present here today,” he said. “Congratulations on your achievements, and welcome as new Maties.”

For Ramjugernath, the occasion was also personal. “This is my first official welcoming as Rector of Stellenbosch University,” he remarked. “I’m excited, I’m proud, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead this great institution.”

‘You belong here’

One of the central messages of Ramjugernath’s address was belonging. “I want you to hear this clearly from the very first day,” he told students. “You belong here. All of you.”

Whether students came from large cities or small towns, were first-generation university entrants or from families with long academic traditions, SU, he said, was a space where all were welcome. The University was not only a place to earn a qualification, but one that would help students develop into people who could make meaningful contributions to the world.

Drawing on SU’s institutional values – excellence, compassion, accountability, respect and equity – Ramjugernath encouraged students to carry these principles beyond their studies. The world they will be entering, he said, needs graduates who could solve problems, build trust and lead ethically. 

He also offered a candid reality check. University life could be overwhelming, he acknowledged, and independence came with responsibility. “Asking for help is not a weakness,” he said. “It is a sign of strength.” He reminded students of the many support structures available, from lecturers and mentors to student leaders and professional services staff.

Inviting newcomers to participate fully in academic, co-curricular and extracurricular life, Ramjugernath urged them to help create a campus culture of care and inclusion. “This University becomes what we choose to make it through the way we treat each other, the way we learn, the way we lead and the way we show up.” 

‘You are part of the 5%’

The second address, delivered by Simiso Langa, Chairperson of the Interim Executive Committee of the Student Representative Council (SRC), also drew warm applause and cheers from the crowd.

Langa welcomed students into what she described as a community of opportunity, growth and belonging, while reminding them of the significance of their achievement. Only 15% of South African matriculants make it to university, she noted, and of the tens of thousands of applications SU receives each year, about 5% result in final offers. “You are part of that 5%,” she said. “You are living proof that improbable things happen.”

While acknowledging the excitement of starting university, Langa spoke frankly about the challenges students may face – loneliness, financial insecurity, food and accommodation concerns, and the pressure to hide one’s true self. Being part of the 5%, she said, came with responsibility: to grow not only academically, but in character, empathy and courage.

Drawing on the myth of Icarus, Langa urged students not to fly too low by playing it safe. “It is better to live a life filled with soaring attempts than to endure the regret of never leaving the ground,” she said, encouraging students to be bold, ask questions and take up space.

“This journey is not only about earning a degree,” she concluded. “It is about discovering who you are, building lifelong connections and leaving a legacy that will inspire those who come after you.”

A Dreamwalk to remember

Following the formal proceedings and the taking of the official 2026 photograph on the rugby field, students set off on the symbolic Dreamwalk down Victoria Street. Accompanied by the Stellenbosch URCSA Brigade band, they passed a banner marking the beginning of their academic journey. In keeping with tradition, newcomers attached handwritten cards capturing their hopes and aspirations to the trees along the route. 

Earlier, the Rector had reminded them that this is a profound moment in their academic journey, and they should remember it when challenges arise. “Always come back to your dream. Remember that moment you walked down Victoria Street and you pinned that dream to a tree. Let it remind you why you started and why you have the purpose, the passion, the drive for excellence and the perseverance to see the journey through at Stellenbosch University.”