The University of Pretoria deeply mourns the passing of Catherine Naik, a cherished member of our community.

Born in KwaZulu-Natal in 1995, Catherine was a dedicated scholar who completed her Master’s degree in Epidemiology at UP in 2021. Her academic achievements reflected her passion for advancing knowledge and her commitment to making a difference in her field.

Catherine joined the University as a Market Researcher in the Department of Institutional Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation on 1 February 2022, where she brought intelligence, diligence and a strong work ethic to her role. In 2024, she extended her contributions by becoming an active member of the Occupational Health and Safety Committee.

Catherine’s excellent sense of humour, unwavering professionalism and remarkable dedication will be fondly remembered by all who had the privilege of working with her.

She was laid to rest on 19 December 2024. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and colleagues during this difficult time. She will be deeply missed but her legacy will live on in the impact she made at UP.