Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT)

05/09/2026

Nanaki Maria Motete graduates Cum Laude, turning her CUT journey into a story of growth and achievement

Nanaki Maria Motete from Sasolburg, Free State, has made her mark at CUT, graduating Cum Laude with a Diploma in Hospitality Management after beginning her studies in 2023. Her achievement is a reflection of more than academic excellence, highlighting a journey of personal growth, determination and self-discovery.

Hospitality Management is often associated with cooking, but for Nanaki, her qualification offered much more. Throughout her studies, she developed valuable management and leadership skills while also growing in confidence and character. Her journey at CUT became an opportunity to discover herself, overcome challenges and work towards becoming the person she aspired to be.

Her success was also supported by the environment at CUT, where dedicated lecturers, quality learning facilities and student support services played an important role in her journey. Access to wellness and counselling programmes further contributed to her overall well-being, allowing her to navigate her university experience while staying focused on her goals.

Reflecting on her achievement, Nanaki expressed gratitude for reaching this milestone. “I am very happy and proud of myself. I thank God because the journey was not easy, but it was not impossible. Through hard work, determination and the support I received at CUT, I was able to achieve my goal and graduate cm laude,” she said.

Congratulations, Nanaki, on this outstanding achievement. Your CUT family is proud of you.

05/09/2026

CUT Graduates are sailing in style

Degrees secured, gowns on and the dance moves unlocked.

05/09/2026

Medicinal Plants Meet Modern Science in the Fight Against Breast Cancer

For generations, medicinal plants have formed part of indigenous knowledge systems, with communities drawing on knowledge of plants and their properties for health and healing. At the intersection of this traditional knowledge and modern scientific innovation lies an emerging area of cancer research: combining plant-derived compounds with nanotechnology to investigate new approaches that could complement and advance existing therapies.

Today, science is providing new ways to investigate that potential, identify biologically active compounds and explore how they could be delivered more precisely in the body.

Driven by a passion for scientific innovation and improving human health, Relebohile Practicia Lefojane is contributing to this field through her doctoral research into nanomedicine-based approaches to breast cancer treatment.

Her dissertation, titled “Albumin Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, In Vitro and In Vivo Biological Activities in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer,” investigates how medicinal plant-derived compounds can be combined with advanced nanotechnology to explore novel therapeutic strategies.

Her research focuses on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive and difficult-to-treat form of breast cancer. Unlike some other breast cancer subtypes, TNBC lacks the major receptors targeted by several existing therapies, limiting targeted treatment options and highlighting the need for continued research into new approaches.

It is within this challenge that medicinal plants meet modern science. Relebohile’s study explores albumin-based nanoparticles as carriers for compounds derived from medicinal plants. These nanoparticles are designed to improve the delivery of therapeutic agents to cancer cells, potentially enhancing their effectiveness while reducing unwanted effects on healthy cells. Through the synthesis and characterisation of these nanoparticles, followed by in vitro and in vivo studies, her research evaluates their biological activity against TNBC and investigates how advanced drug-delivery technologies could enhance the potential application of plant-derived compounds.

By bringing indigenous knowledge, medicinal plants and modern science into conversation, Relebohile’s research connects natural products, pharmaceutical science and nanotechnology in the continuing search for more targeted and innovative approaches to breast cancer treatment.

04/09/2026

CUT celebrates 524 graduates as they set sail into a new horizon

Today, CUT celebrates 524 graduates who have reached an important milestone in their academic journey and are now ready to chart new courses as professionals, innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs, leaders and changemakers. The graduating cohort consist of 476 undergraduate and 48 postgraduate graduates, including 32 master’s and 16 doctoral graduates. Of the 524 graduates, 340 are from the Bloemfontein Campus and 184 from the Welkom Campus.

As our newest graduates leave familiar shores, they carry with them more than qualifications. Their journey reflects resilience, discipline and determination, strengthened by the support of families, friends, lecturers, supervisors, mentors and the wider CUT community.

As they set sail into a new horizon, we celebrate how far they have come and look forward to the impact they will make in their professions, communities and society.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026. May you navigate the journey ahead with courage, purpose and hope.

04/09/2026

04/09/2026

02/09/2026

Graduation Countdown

02/09/2026

Graduation Announcement: E-Ticket

As you prepare for your final voyage to the horizon, please note that graduation tickets are going digital. Hard-copy tickets will be replaced by e-tickets, which will be sent to your registered email address for you and your guests.

Please ensure that your guests have their e-tickets ready for presentation upon arrival at the venue, as no guest will be permitted entry without a valid e-ticket.