UFH Alumni Affairs

14/10/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗜 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗖𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

With 23 distinctions in his undergraduate studies and an artificial intelligence business with an international reach, University of Fort Hare (UFH) alumnus Chuma Memela's route to success is remarkable, considering he once dropped out of university.

Earlier this month, Memela graduated with a Master of Commerce in Information Systems. This brought his total number of UFH qualifications to three, alongside his Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Information Systems and an Honours degree in Information Systems.

He was intentional about his journey: “I arrived at Fort Hare determined to make the most of my second chance at university. After earning two distinctions in my first semester, I set myself the goal of becoming the top student in my class,” said the avid runner from KuGompo City.

READ MORE | https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/from-university-dropout-to-ai-entrepreneur-and-masters-graduate-chuma-memela-rewrites-his-story

25/09/2026

𝗨𝗙𝗛 𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆’𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆

University of Fort Hare alumni gathered in Johannesburg for a breakfast aimed at strengthening ties with their alma mater and exploring ways to contribute to the University’s future.

The Alumni Business Breakfast and Legacy Gathering, held at Southern Sun Rosebank on 22 September, brought together alumni, University leadership, Council members, Convocation, partners and other stakeholders.

The event was hosted by the Fort Hare Foundation.

Welcoming guests, Chairperson of the Fort Hare Foundation, Ms Masabatha Mthwecu, described the gathering as an opportunity to reflect on the lasting relationship between Fort Hare and its alumni.

READ MORE | https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/ufh-alumni-gather-to-strengthen-ties-and-support-the-universitys-legacy

08/09/2026

📍 Gauteng, Sifikile! 💙

⛳ Restoring Hope, One Swing at a Time!

Join the Fort Hare Foundation for the Chancellor’s Fundraising Golf Day on 16 October 2026 at Soweto Golf Club, Johannesburg, in support of distressed students.

Your support can help restore hope and create opportunities for student success. 💙🏌️

08/09/2026

𝗔𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗢𝗻𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 | 𝗨𝗙𝗛 𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗞𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝗜𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱

Growing up in the rural outskirts of Dikeni (Alice) in the Eastern Cape, Enathi Jama saw first-hand the challenges faced by communities where poverty and limited access to basic services remain a reality.

Today, the University of Fort Hare alumna, who graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Business Management and later completed a BCom Honours in Economics, specialising in Financial Markets, is now in Ireland as a 2026/2027 Kader Asmal Fellow, pursuing an MSc in Economics (International Development) at Trinity College Dublin.

The fully funded programme supports South African students to pursue Master’s studies and is aimed at early-career professionals with leadership potential.

According to Jama, her selection for the prestigious fellowship is anchored in a desire to understand the economic challenges facing communities like her own and to find ways of addressing them.

READ MORE | https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/ufh-alumna-enathi-jama-selected-for-prestigious-kader-asmal-fellowship-in-ireland

31/08/2026

20/08/2026

| Be the Difference

The University of Fort Hare Foundation proudly invites our alumni, friends, partners and supporters to the Chancellor's Fundraising Gala Dinner on Friday, 28 August 2026 at the ICC, East London.
This unforgettable evening will feature a keynote address by Prof. Nyameko Barney Pityana and a captivating live performance by award-winning jazz sensation Dumza Maswana.This unforgettable evening will feature a keynote address by Prof. Nyameko Barney Pityana and a captivating live performance by award-winning jazz sensation Dumza Maswana.
Together, we'll celebrate Fort Hare's legacy while raising funds to support financially distressed students with access to education and the opportunity to succeed.
Date: Friday, 28 August 2026 Time: 18:30 for 19:00 Venue: International Convention Centre (ICC), East London
Tickets from R1 000 | Corporate tables available
Let's continue the Fort Hare tradition of lifting others as we rise.Date: Friday, 28 August 2026 Time: 18:30 for 19:00 Venue: International Convention Centre (ICC), East London
Tickets from R1 000 | Corporate tables available
Let's continue the Fort Hare tradition of lifting others as we rise.

17/08/2026

🎓University of Fort Hare Alumni, let’s give back! ⛳

Join us in supporting the Chancellor’s Fundraising Golf Day and help Restore Hope for distressed students.

Together, we can make a difference and keep the Fort Hare legacy alive.

14/07/2026

🎉 **UFH Alumni Excellence | Congratulations to Wongama Singalone Tengela!** 🎉

The University of Fort Hare proudly congratulates alumnus Mr. Wongama Singalone Tengela on receiving the Joe Slovo Housing Policy Excellence Regional Award at the 2026 Pan African City Symposium and Exposition (PACSE 2026), held in Gqeberha, South Africa.

The prestigious award recognises excellence in housing policy development, reform, and implementation that advances equitable and sustainable human settlements. It celebrates leaders whose work promotes social justice, innovation, and inclusive development across Africa.

Mr. Tengela completed his Bachelor of Education (Science) at the University of Fort Hare in 2008, followed by a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Applied Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in 2009.

His remarkable achievement reflects the values of excellence, leadership, and service that define Fort Hare graduates. We celebrate his contribution to sustainable human settlements and wish him continued success as he inspires positive change across the continent.

👏 Congratulations, Mr. Tengela! Your alma mater is immensely proud of you.

10/07/2026

#𝗔𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶𝗢𝗻𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲 | 𝗨𝗙𝗛 𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝘂𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗼𝘀𝗶 𝗕𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱

The University of Fort Hare (UFH) congratulates one of its distinguished alumni, Mr Thembinkosi Bonakele, on his appointment as Chairperson of the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) Board, marking yet another significant achievement in a career defined by exemplary public service, legal excellence, and transformative leadership.

A proud Fort Hare graduate, Bonakele obtained his Bachelor of Juris (B Juris) in 1997 and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in 1999.

During his time at UFH, he served as President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Deputy President of the South African University Students Congress (SAUSC), and as a student representative on the University’s Council and Senate.

READ MORE | https://www.ufh.ac.za/news/ufh-alumnus-thembinkosi-bonakele-appointed-chairperson-of-national-lotteries-commission-board