Women outnumber men at University of KZN graduation ceremonies

Women have emerged as the majority among the 9,680 graduates set to receive degree certificates from the University of KwaZulu-Natal from Monday.

UKZN will host 22 graduation ceremonies in which 5,510 undergraduate and 4,170 postgraduate degrees will be awarded, in the more than week long event.

There are 787 master's and 276 doctoral graduates.

"University management is especially proud of the 117 summa cum laude and 312 cum laude graduates who have completed their studies with distinction.

"The percentage of women graduates remains consistently high at 62%. It is notable that women make up 71% of the summa cum laude and 65% of the cum laude graduates respectively," said UKZN spokesperson Normah Zondo.

The university will celebrate the achievements of 77 graduates with disabilities.

It will also confer honorary doctorates on Willie Bester, a revered resistance artist; Dr Judy Dlamini, founder of the Mbekani Group and chancellor of the University of Witwatersrand; and anti-apartheid activist Protas Madlala.