Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) recently announced its plans to recognize the achievements of thousands of students at its upcoming graduation ceremonies. A total of 6,373 undergraduates and 735 postgraduates will be honored across 14 ceremonies scheduled to take place from April 22 to 26.
Notably, one of the recipients of an honorary doctorate will be Desiree Ellis, the head coach of Banyana Banyana. CPUT’s decision to confer this honor reflects the university’s acknowledgment of Ellis’s significant contribution to the field of sports.
This move by CPUT follows similar actions taken by other institutions, such as the University of Johannesburg, which bestowed an honorary doctorate upon Abha Club coach Pitso Mosimane, and the University of Cape Town, which honored Kaizer Chiefs founder, Kaizer Motaung. In its statement, CPUT highlighted Ellis’s remarkable accomplishments as a professional athlete and as the head coach of South Africa’s women’s football team.
These contributions have established her as a prominent figure in both the African and global sports communities.