South Africa: From Planning to Procession With UCT's Gown Master

Mogamat Benjamin has worked at the University of Cape Town since 1979. He has held a few positions within the Properties and Service Department over his 45-year tenure at the institution, but the role he holds in highest esteem is his current one: gown master.

Much like the stress, sweat and tears that go into getting the degree, it takes a great deal of behind-the-scenes work to put smiles on the faces of the many students who will walk across the stage in the Sarah Baartman Hall on graduation day.The simplicity of the gown master title belies the massive organisational undertaking that this role involves. The duties of the job aren't confined to simply handing out robes and hoods each year.

This is undoubtedly a colossal logistical task - especially seeing as much of the setup must be done in both the Sarah Baartman Hall and the Otto Beit Building, where the academic procession begins. But it's not enough to faze Benjamin. Rather, he views the organisation as a puzzle to be solved. Closer to the day, Benjamin and his team start deep cleaning the venue and setting everything up to accommodate the graduands and their loved ones as well as any honourable guests who might be in attendance.

"On the day of graduation, it's walkabout time. So, the stakeholders will be there, and we'll go through the order of service to ensure that everything is in place and nothing has been overlooked." "It starts at the alumni office in the Otto Beit Building, where all the information about each student is kept; for example, whether they have other degrees that we need to be aware of. Then they move to admissions to collect their tickets, then they move to finance," he said.

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