Charlotte Maxeke, SA’s 1st Black Woman Graduate, to Receive UWC Honorary Doctorate

• The University of the Western Cape announced it will honour Charlotte Maxeke with a Doctor Philosophiae, honoris causa
• Maxeke made history in 1901 as the first Black South African woman to earn a university degree
• A first-of-its-kind commemorative R2 coin bearing her image will also be unveiled to mark 125 years since her graduation

Charlotte Maxeke, one of South Africa’s most celebrated women’s rights and political leaders, is set to receive a Doctor Philosophiae, honoris causa, from the University of the Western Cape. The University of the Western Cape (UWC) announced the honour on 26 August 2026, marking a milestone in the ongoing recognition of Maxeke’s extraordinary life and legacy.

Maxeke earned her degree at Wilberforce University in Ohio, United States, in 1901, becoming the first Black South African woman to hold a university qualification. That achievement alone placed her among the most trailblazing figures in South African history, at a time when access to education for Black women was nearly impossible.

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Maxeke’s legacy lives on

Her contributions have never gone unacknowledged. Over the years, she received the posthumous Order of Mapungubwe (Gold), and Johannesburg General Hospital was renamed the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital in her honour. University residences and academic facilities across the country also carry her name.

The honorary doctorate from UWC adds another significant chapter to that story. The University hosts the Charlotte Maxeke-Mary Robinson Research Chair, established in 2023 as a collaboration between Ireland and Southern Africa to examine the legacies of colonialism, apartheid and empire.

Commemorative coin marks 125 years

Alongside the honorary doctorate, the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute (CMMI) and the South African Reserve Bank will unveil the first commemorative coin in South Africa to bear the image of a woman. The R2 coin honours Maxeke on the 125th anniversary of her graduation. The unveiling took place on 27 August at the UWC Iyatsiba Lab, the university’s arts and humanities research hub in Woodstock, Cape Town.

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Thulasizwe Makhanya, Chairperson and Executive Catalyst of the CMMI, described the coin as more than a commemorative object. “The commemorative coin serves as a lasting tribute to Maxeke’s contribution and the values she represented. It is a reminder that education can open doors, challenge systems and equip future generations to lead and create meaningful change,” he said.

He added: “Charlotte Maxeke’s story did not end with her achievement. It continues through the women learning, leading, creating and shaping the future today.”

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More South Africans who received Honorary Doctorates

• Legendary actress Leleti Khumalo received an Honorary Doctorate from Rhodes University.
• Doctor Khumalo has been awarded an honorary doctorate by Tshwane University of Technology in recognition of his contribution to the game.
• Leleti Khumalo received a hero's welcome at her conferral ceremony at Rhodes University.

Source: Briefly News