16/04/2026
ARE OUR BANNERS AGAINST UCT CORE VALUES?
Students for Life got a message from the "Office for Inclusion and Change" (OIC): "...The OIC has received a complaint pertaining to the content and messaging displayed on the anti-abortion banners during Welcome/Plaza Day 2026. The complaint raises concerns that certain aspects of the messaging may have been perceived as exclusionary and/or misaligned with the University’s core values of inclusivity, respect, and dignity...You are invited to participate in this engagement either through a formal meeting or by submitting a detailed written response outlining the rationale underpinning the messaging..."
Let us know what you think in the comments below:
Introduction
Students for life displayed three banners in orientation week, similar as we have done for three decades.
Banners
1. “Abortion stops a beating heart” (horizontal banner)
Image: Upper campus 2026
Message explained:
• The graphic includes a stylised ‘heart’ and electrocardiogram (ECG) zigzag line.
• Cessation of heartbeat is normally taken as evidence of death, so by this standard heartbeat is evidence of life.
• Heartbeat is detectable around 5-6 weeks gestational age.
• Awareness of pregnancy is normally around 4-6 weeks gestation.
• Average age for abortion is 8 weeks gestation.
• Many are ignorant of this medical fact.
• Abortion advocates tend to deny that the unborn baby is a living human.
• Promoting awareness of these medical facts, thus saves lives and motivates support for the pro-life cause and against abortion.
2. “Students for Life” “Troubled by abortion? Come speak to us.” “Choose Life” “Studentsforlife.co.za” (on vertical flag)
Message explained:
• “Troubled by abortion?” The banner invites those troubled by the killing of innocent unborn babies to speak to the society.
• “Choose life” encourages those pregnant to choose life rather than abortion.
3. “Be a voice for the voiceless – Join Students for Life” (vertical roll up banner)
Image: Medical campus 2026
Message explained
• The image is of a baby halfway through pregnancy, for which abortion is legal de-facto for any reason in South Africa.
• The image of a foot on our logo and also on lapel pins show the fully formed unborn baby foot from 10 weeks gestation.
• Unborn babies cannot speak for themselves.
• Unborn children are the most vulnerable and oppressed members of our society.
• Unborn babies face the threat of death.
• There is a general social obligation to speak up for oppressed people who cannot speak for themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9).
• Therefore we have a duty to speak for unborn children.
Many freshers came to our stall and engaged in vigorous discussion.
General information on society
Students for Life promotes the Sanctity of Human Life on University of Cape Town campus and in the broader society through: education, public advocacy, debate, welfare support, surveys, academic research, protest, mentoring, medical students right to conscientiously object. It does so in partnership with associated campus societies, local churches and Non-Profit Organisations.
Key issues in defending the sanctity of human life include: abortion, euthanasia, infanticide and xenophobia. The society communicates with its members and supporters through email, bulk SMS, page, posters and flyers.
Web links to more information
UCT Students for Life www.studentsforlife.co.za/
and Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/
