?This past weekend, Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) celebrated a remarkable milestone – its tenth annual Homecoming Weekend for alumni, held from Thursday 11 September, to Saturday 13 September 2025.
A packed programme of events made this Homecoming unforgettable. Alumni travelled from near and far – as far as New Zealand and Singapore, as well as the UK, USA, Canada, and Namibia – gathering for a variety of activities, including residence and class reunions, to celebrate notable milestones and relive cherished memories.
Several significant anniversaries were marked as part of the festivities: the 100th anniversary of both the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and the Department of Agricultural Economics, the 120th anniversary of Harmonie Residence, the 70th anniversary of Simonsberg Residence, and an impressive 150 years of Maties Rugby.
100 Years of Pinotage
One of the standout highlights was the Matie Winemakers Showcase, celebrating a century of Pinotage. Over 20 top Matie winemakers presented their finest vintages, giving alumni the opportunity to savour some of South Africa's best wines. The showcase also featured a special performance by RAAF (Esté & Lourens Raaf), both proud Maties.
An alumnus from the Eastern Cape, who attended with several fellow graduates, said: “It was incredible to experience the best of South African winemaking all in one place. We savoured wines from more than 20 top Matie winemakers and, of course, couldn't resist taking a few boxes home to share with friends. It was the perfect blend of tasting, reminiscing, and celebrating our Matie spirit."
Theatre Showcase and Matieland Concert
The celebrations began with the Theatre Showcase, directed by alumna and Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards winner Nicole Holm, celebrating the finest in Matie performing arts.
At the heart of Homecoming was the Matieland Concert, returning for another memorable evening at Endler Hall. Celebrated storyteller and musical icon Natani?l reflected: “I looked forward to performing at Endler Hall, where I had my first shows – and also my most hectic exams."
Actress and comedienne Margit Meyer-R?denbeck brought her Ouma alter ego to life, while performers including Suidooster's Dean Smith, the Maties Jazz Society, alumni vocal ensemble Lyrica Nova, soprano Sashon Johnson, and pianist Karen Petersen all received standing ovations.
Maties Rugby legacy and Springbok victory
From its first match on Die Braak to producing national and international players, the legacy of Maties Rugby was celebrated both on and off the field. The Springbok victory over New Zealand at the Cake Tin added extra excitement, with one spectator noting: “The Danie Craven Stadium is where our players and these players here today learned their try-saving tackles."
Karen Bruns, Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations, said: “Ten years ago, Homecoming was a dream of bringing our alumni back to Matieland to see and experience Stellenbosch 肆客足球 today. This past weekend, walking across campus and seeing alumni laughing through reunions, residences marking remarkable birthdays, and Matie talent shining at the Winemakers Showcase, Matieland Concert and Theatre Showcase, it was clear how much the tradition has grown. Our 10th Homecoming wasn't just a milestone – it was a celebration of the pride we share in calling SU home."
Marking his first Homecoming as Rector and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Deresh Ramjugernath added: “I met so many members of the Matie community who continue to carry the spirit of Stellenbosch across the world. Whether they graduated last year or many decades ago, this was their moment to come home – to reconnect, relive memories, and celebrate their journey as part of the Matie family."?
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