As usual, we have planned various tailormade events for our alumni. This is your chance to reconnect with old friends, relive your student days and participate in a range of fun and exciting activities.

Expect networking events, campus tours, a business breakfast, sporting activities and socials. No fewer than 11 residences will also host birthday reunions over the weekend, and 10 first-year reunion groups will be returning to campus.

Do not miss out! Your alma mater is preparing to roll out the maroon carpet for our biggest Homecoming to date.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

Thursday 8 September

A round of golf

We’re kicking off Homecoming at 11:00 with a first-ever golf day for our SWANs (Stellenbosch Women Alumnae Network) at the Stellenbosch golf course.  A prize-giving ceremony will take place at the end of the day, followed by a dinner and the opportunity to enjoy award-winning wines from SU’s very own winemaking alumni. The cost is R3 600 per four-ball and all proceeds will go towards SU’s Bursary Fund.  

Friday 9 September

Business breakfast
We’re up bright and early for a business breakfast at 09:00 at the Adam Small theatre complex in Stellenbosch. A panel of experts will be discussing the theme “Bull or bear? Leaders’ views on the future of South Africa’s economy”.

Leading thinkers such as South African Financial and Fiscal Commission chair Dr Patience Nombeko Mbava, Artscape chief executive Dr Marlene le Roux and Simon Susman, Chairman of Conservation South Africa, President of Intercontinental Group of Department Stores, Board member of five companies and Chairman of Woolworths Holdings Ltd, will share their insights. Dr Morné Mostert, former director of our Institute for Futures Research, will serve as moderator of what is bound to be a highly informative discussion in light of the current challenges and opportunities in both the South African and global economy.

Matie Soirée
Close your eyes and imagine spring in the Boland, the smells of food wafting through the air, and the very best company … Now gather your friends and make that vision a reality. At 14:00, we’ll be hosting a Matie Soirée at the Alumni Clubhouse at Die Stal.

We have teamed up with nine wine farms and our winemaking alumni to present a tasting of their finest produce. For those preferring something non-alcoholic, The Raw Berry Press will be on hand to serve up some of their top-quality cold-pressed juices.

While you mingle with both familiar and new faces, we’ll treat you to an evening of first-class entertainment.

Saturday 10 September

Bergpad run, walk or cycle
Come fill your lungs with fresh air and stretch those legs. The festivities continue with a walk, run or cycle up breath-taking Stellenbosch mountain at 07:30. Not superfit? Don’t worry, we’re accommodating all fitness levels, so bring your friends, family and pets, and enjoy fantastic views of the town. Refreshments will be served afterwards at the Alumni Clubhouse.

Throughout the weekend

Campus tours

How much has changed, and how much is still the same? Come and see for yourself. We’ll be offering two campus tour options throughout Homecoming weekend, which will depart from the Alumni Clubhouse at set times.

First-year decade reunions
Calling all first-years from 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012, and to compensate for Covid-19, those from 1971, 1981, 1991, 2001 and 2011 too! As part of the Homecoming celebrations, we will be hosting first-year reunions for these cohorts. Expect residence visits, campus tours and a big year-group luncheon. Have you met your year-group champion? You would have received an email invitation by now. If not, email us at homecoming@sun.ac.za, and we’ll make sure that you’re on the list. The champions have been hard at work bringing Maties of each year group together to celebrate Homecoming.

Residence birthday celebrations
In the course of Homecoming weekend, Huis ten Bosch, Majuba, Simonsberg, Goldfields,  Serruria and Olympus residences will be celebrating their respective birthdays and hosting reunions. Moreover, since Helderberg, Eendrag, Heemstede, Hombré and Metanoia had to cancel their birthday reunions in 2021 due to Covid-19, they’ll make up for it this year. 

Matieland awaits!