Ivan Toms Building
Item
Building Name
Ivan Toms Building
Alternative Title
Princess Christian Home
Description
Ivan Tom’s name remains synonymous with activism and leadership in the field of health care. He was described by the previous vice-chancellor, Njabulo Ndebele, as “a true son of UCT” and as an “outstanding South African, a fearless activist, colleague and friend”. Ndebele went on to say: “Ivan Toms will long be remembered for his fierce opposition to apartheid and conscriptions, as well as for his tenacious campaigning for gay and lesbian rights. His sense of humility and genuine empathy, combined with a deep understanding of the myriad issues that affect health and well-being have made a lasting impact on healthcare in the region”. Toms trained as a medical doctor, receiving his degree in 1976 before he served as director of UCT’s Student Health and Welfare Centre Organisation between 1993 and 1996.
Against conscription, he started the End Conscription Campaign in 1983 and went on a hunger strike in 1985 in protest to the government's decision to bulldoze Crossroads. In 1989 he was sentenced to 21 months of jail, serving 9, for refusing to accept military call-up. He went on to become the Director of Health for the City of Cape Town. He was instrumental in setting up the Students’ HIV/AIDS resistance programme, known as SHARP (the first university-run HIV/AIDS peer-education programme in South Africa). Mail and Guardian 25 March 2008. The Guardian, David Beresford, Thursday 10 April 2008.
Against conscription, he started the End Conscription Campaign in 1983 and went on a hunger strike in 1985 in protest to the government's decision to bulldoze Crossroads. In 1989 he was sentenced to 21 months of jail, serving 9, for refusing to accept military call-up. He went on to become the Director of Health for the City of Cape Town. He was instrumental in setting up the Students’ HIV/AIDS resistance programme, known as SHARP (the first university-run HIV/AIDS peer-education programme in South Africa). Mail and Guardian 25 March 2008. The Guardian, David Beresford, Thursday 10 April 2008.
Address
26 Rhodes Avenue,Mowbray
Campus
Lower
Latitude
-33.95039
Longitude
18.46951
Building Number
532
Building Code
5320
status
Owned
