Prof De la Rey delivered her keynote address to the students, parents and visitors, who packed the University’s Amphitheatre.

Students and visitors visited the many exhibition stands set up by different faculties, and first-year students had an opportunity to interact with various university stakeholders who included student leaders, sports representatives and representatives from various student residences around the campus.

Welcoming Day at the University of Pretoria would not have been complete without a tree-planting ceremony, which has been a tradition since 2001.

Three red beech trees (Protorhus longifolia) were planted by Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Mr Jan van Deventer, who represented the TuksAlumni Board, and a first-year student, Ms Liesl van Eeden. Ms Van Eeden will be studying for a degree in Chemical Engineering at UP.

Traditionally the first-year student who plants a tree represents the year group, and the tree symbolises the new group of students who will themselves become alumni.