Dr Retha Smit has just collected her PhD in psychiatry from Stellenbosch University, and she’ll tell you straight that age had nothing to do with it!

Stellenbosch, South Africa (01 April 2026) – Stellenbosch University (SU) has shared an inspiring story that proves you’re never too old to learn. Last week, Dr. Retha Smit, at 67-years-young, donned the cap and gown as she received her PhD in psychiatry.

“Age was never a factor for me. Instead, I remain deeply grateful for the health and strength that allowed me to complete the journey I began in 2012,” she says as per SU.

Smit has worked in psychiatric research at Stellenbosch for nearly three decades, starting out in 1996 as a study coordinator for clinical trials in psychiatry, after gaining her diploma in general nursing and obstetrics. Psychiatry was a field she had no formal training in at the time but she learned on the job, and rose to become principal study coordinator of a busy psychiatric clinical trials unit, while keeping her bigger goal in sight the whole time.

Her love of learning came from her parents who instilled in her a deep appreciation for knowledge from an early age. It’s a belief she carried with her through the years of raising four children alone, working full-time, and at times holding down a second job to make ends meet.

“During those years, there was little opportunity for me to pursue further studies. However, I always carried the intention of continuing my education when the time was right.”

That time came in 2012, when her youngest child went to university and she seized the moment. Years later at 60, she completed her honours degree in psychology cum laude through UNISA. Then came a master’s in research psychology at Stellenbosch.

Her PhD, awarded at the university’s March 2026 graduation ceremony, marks another inspiring milestone!

As per SU, Smit’s PhD research focused on relapse in schizophrenia. Specifically, the factors beyond medication non-adherence that cause patients to deteriorate. Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the population around the world yet ranks among the top ten causes of disability worldwide. Her research shows that sustainable improvement requires addressing biological, psychosocial, and structural factors together. In 2024, following training in Denmark, she conducted South Africa’s first virtual reality-based study on schizophrenia, using AVATAR therapy, a therapeutic approach that addresses persistent auditory hallucinations, or hearing voices that aren’t there.

Outside of her academic world, Smit keeps her creative muscles exercised by playing acoustic guitar, making music with friends, and has taught herself crochet and lace-making.

Looking ahead, her plans academically are to publishing her findings, co-supervise master’s students, and contribute to ongoing clinical trials.

Her advice to anyone thinking about going back to study is to keep focused on the goal. If your physical and mental health allow for it, then why not?

“It is never too late to reach your goal. If you are fortunate enough to enjoy good physical and mental health, the most important step is to set your mind on a goal. Consider the challenges you may face in achieving that goal and plan actively to overcome them.” she says.

“This achievement shows that with perseverance, a positive mindset, and self-belief, you can achieve what you set out to accomplish.”

Sources: Linked above.

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Putting their motto to serve as they learn into motion, over 50 Stellenbosch health sciences students traded their textbooks for the front lines, working alongside dedicated nurses to bring vital healthcare to the heart of the Robertson community!

Robertson, South Africa (31 March 2026) – More than 50 students from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at the University of Stellenbosch stepped up to support primary healthcare professional nurses as they delivered vital health services directly to communities in Robertson and the surrounding areas.

The initiative is part of the Langeberg InReach programme – a community outreach and service delivery effort run by the Langeberg Municipality designed to bring essential municipal services directly to residents, particularly those in underserved or rural areas.

The FMHS embodies the motto: “Serve as we Learn”, and serve these students certainly did!

Over three days, undergraduate students from Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Medicine, Dietetics, and Speech Therapy joined nurses on mobile clinics that travelled into communities, schools, and childcare facilities in Robertson, Bonnievale, and Montagu.

According to the University, the students assisted with health screening, immunisations, prevention activities, eye screening and other services that help strengthen the wellbeing of local residents.

“FMHS InReaches combine hands-on learning with service delivery, particularly in rural areas where healthcare needs are significant. The goal is to give regional health systems an added boost while creating opportunities for students to gain practical experience and insight into community-focused care. The FMHS works closely with the Western Cape Government Department of Health and Wellness and several key partners to make the initiative possible,” the FMHS shared.

In support of the Department’s “Start well, live well, age well” strategy, which prioritises child health, this InReach also placed a strong emphasis on child wellness and prevention to help ensure long and healthy lives for the youngest members of the community.

By selflessly bridging the gap between theory and practice, these health sciences students not only lightened the load for dedicated local nurses but also left an indelible mark of compassion on the communities they were so proud to serve.

Sources: Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

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She was arrested and then barred from her degree. Her twin daughters just graduated from the same university together.

Stellenbosch, South Africa (29 March 2026) – In the early 1980s, a young woman named Patricia Grace Rorich was studying medicine at Stellenbosch University when she was arrested for protesting the injustices of apartheid.

When she was released, she was told she couldn’t continue her MBChB degree. She had to switch to a BSc in dietetics, instead. During her studies, she wasn’t allowed to live in residence because she was classified as coloured. She stayed with her uncle in Idas Valley, instead.

Patricia finished her degree, got married, and had twin daughters. Then she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Clio and KD Sass were three years old when their mother died.

Their father, Ernest, raised the girls alone in Pinelands, Cape Town, surrounded by a large extended family. He told them their mother loved unconditionally and saw the good in everyone. He used to tell them that the brightest star in the sky was their mom, looking out for them. The twins only learned the full story of what had happened to Patricia at Stellenbosch when they were in Grade 11, the same year they started thinking about which university to apply to.

“When we heard it, we just knew that we had to come to Stellenbosch,” said KD, as per Stellenbosch University. “Her story meant that we couldn’t succumb to a spirit of victimhood. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, but we can always grow forward if we strive forthrightly.”

They arrived as Maties and spent their first four years living in residences within walking distance of each other. They studied together, supported each other through the pressure of university life, and both rose to leadership positions in their residences.

Walking to class and living in a residence where her mom had been denied held weight.

“It just brings so much humility – sadness for her and for so many others, but overall gratitude,” said KD, as per Stellenbosch University.

Clio also felt her own version of that connection when she realised her chosen field had actually overlapped with her mom’s

“It felt very full circle being in a similar field to what our mother studied,” she said.

The journey didn’t come without challenges. KD’s degree in mathematics typically takes three years. It took her six, and required a Dean’s Concession to complete. She kept going because of the example her mom had set. She mentioned she’d bought her graduation dress in 2024, the year she first thought she’d be done.

“I’m very happy to now be wearing that dress for the first time for my graduation!” she said.

On 25 March 2026, Clio received her master’s degree in food science, awarded cum laude. KD received her BSc in mathematical sciences, biomathematics. They walked across the stage on the same day, at the same university where their mother’s dreams were once taken from her.

Their dad watched from the crowd.

“The fact that Clio and KD are graduating on the same day makes this occasion exceptionally special,” said Ernest Sass, as per Stellenbosch University. “When they were born, I could never have imagined that I would one day be their primary caregiver and provider. The sacrifices and uncertainties along the way were immense – and now, standing at this moment of their graduation, I am left speechless.”

The twins say their mom’s middle name, Grace, described who she was, and what she was denied.

“To live with grace is to show kindness, humility and goodwill,” Clio said. “Grace was not always given to my mother, yet she continued to give it freely to others. She rose above her circumstances, and we can all learn a powerful lesson from her life.”

Sources: Linked above.

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After overcoming financial challenges and self-doubt, the Atlantis-born academic completes her PhD in Afrikaans and Dutch in just two years and now hopes to uplift communities through education and storytelling.

Stellenbosch, South Africa (26 March 2026) – For Dr Allison Matroos, earning a doctorate wasn’t just about academic success, but more about proving that where you come from doesn’t have to define where you’re going.

The Atlantis-born academic recently graduated with a PhD in Afrikaans and Dutch from Stellenbosch University, completing the demanding programme in just two years. It’s a remarkable achievement on its own, but even more so considering the road she had to travel to get there.

Now working as a postdoctoral fellow and lecturer at the university, Matroos is using her platform to highlight the importance of representation, especially for communities like Dr Atlantis, which are often spoken about in negative terms.

Her journey began in a home shaped by financial challenges, where she was raised by her grandmother and became the first in her family to attend university.

“When you grow up in Atlantis you learn at an early age of survival, but also what the word ‘perseverance’ really means. My journey wasn’t easy. I walked a winding path of falling and getting up again in an environment where one’s dreams are often overshadowed by violence and feel out of one’s reach.”

Despite the setbacks, she kept going.

“If I could have been paid R1 for all the times I thought about giving up, I would be a millionaire today. Knowing that my mother and grandmother were praying for me and that no one was going to come and save me, that I was responsible for my own future, kept me going.”

Her research explores how literature can be used as a powerful teaching tool, particularly for students learning Afrikaans as a second language. By introducing poetry and short stories into the classroom, she encourages a more engaging and less intimidating learning environment.

Beyond her academic work, she is also a creative writer, using storytelling as a way to process personal experiences and reflect the realities of communities that are often overlooked.

“My research emphasises that the choice of culturally appropriate texts dramatically increases students’ engagement and motivation.”

With her doctorate now complete, she hopes to expand her work into broader educational spaces while continuing to tell stories that matter.

Sources: Stellenbosch University/ Alec Basson 

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From the streets of Cape Flats to the history books: Elana Ryklief hasn’t just earned a PhD, she’s broken personal generational cycles and redefined the general understanding of transgender narratives.

Cape Town, South Africa (25 March 2026) – Every voice carries weight, and every story deserves to be heard. For Elana Ryklief, that voice was found within the halls of academia.

Growing up in Steenberg on the Cape Flats, Elana has come a long way to become the first coloured trans woman from the community to earn a PhD from Stellenbosch University’s Department of English.

Hailing from a disadvantaged background, Elana’s path was paved with grit and resilience. In pursuing her doctoral dreams, she didn’t just build a career – she broke a generational cycle and, in doing so, shone a light on the lived experiences of the transgender community.

The Upbringing That Shaped Her

Her childhood memories reflect the complexity of growing up in a community marked by both warmth and hardship.

“The good memories are based on community and celebrations,” she recalls.

“But there were also difficult realities. The neighbourhood is affected by gang violence, drug abuse, police raids and the deaths of ordinary people.”

These early experiences would later inform the critical perspective she brings to her academic research.

Elana credits the women in her life for shaping her sense of self and womanhood from an early age.

“Steenberg is a lively community filled with people from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. Coloured women are formidable, strong and exceptionally independent. Growing up, these women supported my goals and dreams and celebrated all my achievements.”

It was this complex background and the strong women who carried her, that would inform and inspire Elana’s path.

Finding Her Voice Through Scholarship

In school, her teachers recognised her academic potential, and when she eventually progressed to university, Elana found her intellectual home in the humanities, armed with an NRF scholarship.

The newly capped doctor’s research explores transgender life writing and representation, drawing on both emerging trans scholarship and her own autoethnographic experiences.

Elana argues that popular assumptions often frame gender transition as a simple linear journey from “before” to “after” – a narrative she believes fails to reflect the complexity of lived realities.

Her research, described as groundbreaking, opens up new ways of thinking about transgender experiences in South Africa.

“Her pioneering work offers crucial insights into how societies and institutions respond to transgender individuals,” says one of her supervisors, Prof Mathilda Slabbert.

“Elana’s passion, energy and commitment kept us on our toes as supervisors. It has been an exceptionally rewarding experience.”

Elana didn’t just earn a degree; she claimed a space that had never been occupied before. As the first coloured Steenberg woman to do it, her accomplishment carries particular significance for the community she comes from.

Looking ahead, Elana hopes to build a career in academia and continue documenting transgender experiences in South Africa.

“I am excited to continue producing research for and by my community. My goal is to share these stories and bring them into spaces where they have not always been heard,” she says.

Sources: Stellenbosch University

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‘Many well-witschias for the day’ – Stellenbosch University’s Botanical Garden celebrates a special centenarian birthday of one of the oldest and most fascinating plants on earth!

Stellenbosch, South Africa (23 March 2026) – The Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden’s female Welwitschia has just turned 100 years old. Planted in 1926 by the garden’s first curator, Dr Hans Herre, she is the oldest Welwitschia mirabilis in cultivation anywhere in the world!

The plant has officially been named Mirabel, a nod to the latter part of her scientific name, which translates from Latin to ‘marvellous’ or ‘wonderful.’ She upholds a reputation of being one of the oldest and most fascinating plants in existence.

The Welwitschia mirabilis is one of the strangest and most singular plants on Earth. It has no close living relatives. It belongs to its own genus, its own family, and sits in a botanical category essentially all by itself. Scientists describe it as a ‘living fossil’ because it has existed since the Cretaceous period, over 100 million years ago!

To put that into perspective, the Welwitschia was around when the T. rex, Triceratops and Velociraptor roamed…

The species was only formally recorded by Western science in 1859, when Austrian botanist Friedrich Welwitsch came across one in the Namib Desert. According to the story, he was so overcome by the sight of it he could ‘only kneel on the hot earth and stare, not believing his eyes.’

As per the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, the average wild Welwitschia is carbon-dated at between 500 and 600 years old, and the oldest on record is estimated at around 1500 years. They can live for over 2000 years in the wild. Mirabel, at 100, is essentially still a toddler.

One of the most fascinating aspects of the Welwitschia is that it bears the same two leaves for its entire lifespan.

It’s the only plant on earth that does so, growing continuously outward from a wide, woody trunk that sits low to the ground. The Welwitschia’s leaves are officially the longest-lived leaves on Earth, and a single plant, over a thousand years, can produce up to 150 metres of leaf material!

Welwitschias are what botanists call ‘dioecious’, which means that male and female plants are completely separate. So Mirabel, our lady of the hour, is female. You can tell by her cones, which are larger than the males’ and produce sweet, nectar-like droplets on a little stalk that extends down into each scale. Each cone holds around 100 winged seeds that disperse into the desert by the wind.

There are a few things scientists once got wrong about these wonders, too. For years, it was believed they relied on deep underground water or fog to survive. But research has shown they mainly depend on rainwater, using a network of fine roots close to the surface rather than a deep taproot.

Another myth is that they’re pollinated by wind. Welwitschias actually rely on insects like wasps and flies. Male plants produce pollen and sweet droplets to attract these pollinators, while female plants like Mirabel grow larger cones that produce seeds. Each cone can hold around 100 winged seeds, which are eventually dispersed by the wind.

Right now, both the male and female plants at the Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden are in cone, putting on a surprisingly colourful and intricate display that visitors can still catch for a few more weeks. Well worth a visit if you love botanical wonders!

Sources: Linked above. 

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In just a few days, Stellenbosch University lecturer Dr Marietjie Lutz will be turning grit into generosity and kilometres into opportunity for deserving science students in need.

Stellenbosch, South Africa (15 March 2026) – Amid the everyday routines and rhythms of our daily lives, every so often we’ll be impacted by something (or someone) that stops us… and moves us to respond. This could look like lending a helping hand, being extra patient with someone going through a difficult time or responding to the needs of another.

As a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science at Stellenbosch University, Dr Marietjie Lutz has had the privilege of working with talented and dedicated students every day. In witnessing their incredible potential, she has also, however, discovered the obstacles that threaten how far these bright minds can go.

“Their determination and potential inspire me deeply. Yet for some, financial hardship threatens to derail their academic journeys,” she shares.

Moved by their circumstances, Dr Lutz will, through her Wheels of Opportunity (WOOP) initiative, aim to raise R100,000 for the Stellenbosch University Move4Food programme, which helps students in need access essential support so they can focus on their studies.

The idea for WOOP developed after Lutz discovered in 2022 that one of her students was facing homelessness because of financial need and yet was still achieving academically. She decided to support financially struggling BSc undergraduate students through a fundraising cycling challenge.

This year, she is saddling up once again. To champion this cause, she will be taking on one of the toughest mountain bike stage races in the world, the Absa Cape Epic, alongside her teammate, Junita Kruger.

“Together, we are riding not only to test our endurance and resilience, but to raise R100,000 in support of talented but financially vulnerable science students. The Cape Epic is known for its demanding terrain, long days in the saddle, and relentless climbs,” Dr Lutz says.

Having turned 50 last year, Lutz says the Epic is the ideal way to celebrate this milestone – by celebrating life and giving back to those who need it most.

From as early as 5 am in the mornings, she hits the road for her training rides before work and trains long hours on the bike over weekends to prepare for a challenge powered by purpose.

Every kilometre she rides and every challenge she overcomes will symbolise the obstacles many of her students face in pursuing their education.

“Just as we rely on preparation, perseverance and support to reach the finish line, our students rely on the generosity of others to achieve their academic dreams. Your contribution, no matter the amount, helps remove financial barriers and creates life-changing opportunities,” the compassion lecturer says.

To help ensure that deserving students are empowered to focus on their studies, graduate with confidence, and build brighter futures, consider donating here.

Sources: Linked Above

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After stepping away from painting to build a career in hairdressing, Jana reignited her passion during lockdown, creating vibrant, nature-inspired artworks that capture joy and personal meaning.

Johannesburg, South Africa (12 March 2026) – For Jana Aspeling, watching her large artworks being carefully lifted and installed into their new home was a deeply emotional reminder of a journey that had come full circle. One that began years earlier as a young art student and eventually led back to the passion.

Jana says creativity has been part of her life for as long as she can remember.

“I think my first memories as a, even a little girl, was that I was always creating.”

That creativity eventually led her to study Fine Arts at Stellenbosch University. However, like many young artists trying to find their voice, the path was not always straightforward.

After completing her studies, Jana stepped away from the art world and built a successful career in hairdressing, eventually running her own business. While she loved working with people, the creative spark never fully disappeared. It was the COVID-19 lockdown that unexpectedly reignited it.

“We all felt cooped up. Some people took up gym, but that’s not what I did. I started painting.”

Jana began sharing her paintings online, often featuring birds, florals and vibrant colours inspired by nature. What started as a personal creative outlet soon gained attention and, of course, sales.

“As I started posting paintings, they just sold,” she says.

The sudden response felt like a moment of clarity.

“It felt like I was getting this ‘aha’ moment, like I was being shown a path.”

Today, nature remains central to Jana’s work. Her paintings often include hidden elements that hold personal meaning for the people who commission them. In one recent artwork, each bird even carries the birth date of a family member.

“I want the painting to be something that becomes like a family heirloom. Something that can be passed from generation to generation.”

For Jana, colour is the language through which she communicates most clearly.

“I can express myself in colour better than in words. Colour lifts the soul without saying a word.”

More than anything, Jana hopes her art brings joy to those who see it.

“If someone stands in front of my work and just feels happiness, then I’ve achieved what I wanted.”

Looking back on her journey, she believes every step played a role even the years away from art.

“Everything I’ve done, from hairdressing to learning new skills, has played a part in how I create today.”

Sources: GTG Interview 

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Thirteen university students are balancing their studies with the heroic work of fighting wildfires.

Stellenbosch, South Africa (03 March 2026) – Their fellow Stellenbosch University (SU) community calls them the ‘Mountain Goats’. A group of students who, when the call comes through, drop everything to fight wildfires around the Western Cape.

Through Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS), these young heroes often hike to difficult-to-reach terrain that firefighting trucks, tankers and even helicopters can’t access.

Wildfires can spread at a drop of a hat – emergencies have seen the Mountain Goats sacrifice lectures, study sessions and assessments to beat back the flames. They’re always available.

“When an emergency happens, we run towards it. We follow the sirens,” says Liam Proctor, a BSc Human Life Sciences student who hopes to study medicine.

Liam is one of 13 SU students who serve as firefighters with the largest volunteer firefighting organisation in South Africa. With roughly 350 members across four bases – Stellenbosch, Helderberg, Newlands and the Southern Peninsula – VWS deploys crews across the province.

“Each winter, volunteers undergo mandatory annual retraining, which includes physical, practical and theoretical assessments. Once qualified, they are expected to participate in regular weekend standbys and remain available for deployment at any time.” shares SU.

They’re committed students with bright futures ahead, but they’re also willing to put everything on hold when the call for help comes through. Donning their yellow and blue uniforms with pride, and shouldering tens of kilograms of gear, they hike up literal mountains to beat back the flames.

The group has sacrificed much of their time serving on the frontlines of some of the most devastating fires the Western Cape has experienced in recent years.

It takes unmatched drive and dedication to keep showing up when the sirens go.

Dario Consani is a third-year BA Sports Science student with a second major in geographic environmental studies. He spends hours volunteering. When the adrenaline wears off, it comes down to physical ability. Consani trains five times a week to stay in shape.

“I thought it would be something adventurous to get involved in. I’m really glad I joined,” he says with a big grin. “You need the physical and mental drive to be able to continue to fight fires for 12 plus hours at a time,” he explains.

Then there’s Zach Ambrose, a third-year mechanical engineering student who hails from Pretoria. He dreamed of becoming a firefighter since he was five. He chose to study at SU partly because he knew he could join VWS.

“That was a big part of my motivation,” he says with a laugh. “Just don’t tell my mother!”

For Kate Cotterell, a third-year electrical and electronic engineering student, the interest began in Grade 7, when her teacher’s husband, a structural firefighter, visited her class. Years later, a friend at the Newlands VWS base shared stories of deployments that sealed her decision. While balancing the academic calendar with unpredictable wildfires has been a challenge, it’s one she has no regrets about.

“My first fire was an experience I will never forget,” she says. “It’s so rewarding. I now have a much bigger appreciation for all firefighters, and everyone involved, knowing now how strenuous their job is.”

The work of VWS extends well beyond the fireground. Behind every crew scrambling up a mountain is an army of logistics coordinators, dispatchers, drivers and crew leaders keeping things ticking at base. Without them, frontline firefighters wouldn’t know where to go or have the gear to get there.

“There is a place for everyone,” Proctor says, encouraging others to join the VWS. “You’re a student for a very short time of your life. Now is when you’re supposed to make the most of your energy and strength. What better way to make a positive difference than to become a volunteer firefighter?”

Volunteers that join don’t earn money, which makes them even greater heroes.

VWS runs on donations – fuel, equipment, vehicles – and the generosity of the community is what keeps the wheels turning and the hoses connected.

Sources: Stellenbosch University.

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Postgraduate engineering students from Stellenbosch University have just earned international recognition for building technology that can detect rare whale calls hidden deep within years of Antarctic datasets.

Stellenbosch, South Africa (19 February 2026) – Christiaan Geldenhuys, a PhD candidate, and Master’s student Günther Tonitz from Stellenbosch University’s Department of Electrical & Electronic Engineering earned second place overall at BioDCASE 2025.

The competition forms part of the prestigious IEEE Detection and Classification of Acoustic Scenes and Events (DCASE) Challenge – one of the world’s leading benchmarks in audio machine learning.

In simple terms, the duo built smart computer models that can detect whale calls hidden inside years Antarctic recordings. The specific task this year focused on Antarctic blue and fin whales. Both species were hunted to near-extinction during the industrial whaling era and are still being carefully monitored as their populations recover.

Scientists use underwater microphones to track their calls, but the ocean is loud. Waves, ice movement, ships and other marine life all add to the background noise. Plus, whale calls only made up about 5% of the recordings, Stellenbosch Univeristy shares.

Christiaan and Günther had to design algorithms capable of spotting faint, rare signals buried in complex, multi-year datasets with very low signal-to-noise ratios. Competing against six international research teams, the Stellenbosch duo achieved the second-best technical performance overall!

At the BioDCASE workshop in Barcelona, their peer-reviewed paper received the Jury Award for Best Paper. The duo later expanded their research, winning another Best Paper Award at the Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (SATNAC) 2025.

“These achievements highlight the strength of advanced signal processing and machine learning research within the Faculty of Engineering, and underscore Stellenbosch University’s growing international impact in audio machine learning and environmental monitoring,” writes Stellenbosch University’s Amber Viviers. “Congratulations to Christiaan, Günther and Prof Niesler on this exceptional accomplishment.”

Sources: Linked above.

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Or catch an episode of Good Things with Brent Lindeque or our Weekly Top 5 below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country – and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African. 

The post Stellies Postgrads Help ‘Listen’ for Whales and Win Big Internationally appeared first on Good Things Guy.