Renaming “Jammies” Hall to Sarah Baartman Hall marks a significant step in the institution’s transformation journey.
The renaming ceremony took place on Wednesday and was attended by students, staff, alumni, and dignitaries.
The event honoured Sarah Baartman, a Khoi woman whose life story has come to symbolise resilience and the enduring strength of the human spirit in the face of profound exploitation and injustice.
Delays to the renaming process
UCT’s Council first initiated the process to rename the hall in 2018, as part of broader efforts to ensure the university’s spaces reflect inclusivity and recognition of South Africa’s diverse heritage.
However, the official change was delayed due to a number of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
This deeply symbolic commemoration forms part of UCT’s spring 2025 graduation season, and also falls within South Africa’s Heritage Month.
UCT Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mosa Moshabela, said Baartman’s life story represented both the brutality of colonial exploitation and the enduring human spirit in the face of unimaginable violation.
According to UCT, the decision to rename Jameson Hall was sparked by the moral urgency of the #RhodesMustFall movement.
Furthermore, it was made possible by months of consultation with Khoi and San communities, academics, social justice activists and students.
Who was Sarah Baartman?
Born in the Eastern Cape in the late 18th century, Sarah Baartman was taken to Europe. There she was put on display – her body was objectified and dehumanised for public spectacle.
Her remains were exhibited in French museums until their eventual repatriation to South Africa in 2002.
“Her name on this building calls us to confront injustice with honesty and courage,” said Moshabela.
“It reminds us of the violence of colonialism, the silencing of indigenous voices, and the mutilation of the female body in ways that denied humanity.”
“It also calls us to healing: to create spaces where remembrance is linked to justice, where trauma is met with acknowledgement, and where history is engaged openly and responsibly.”
Do you agree with the name change?
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