Remembering: Prof David Kaplan A Memorial in Honour of the Late Professor David Kaplan

On 11 March 2026, the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) and PRISM, with the support of the School of Economics, hosted a hybrid memorial at the University of Cape Town to honour the life and legacy of the late Professor David Kaplan.

The memorial brought together colleagues, former students, policymakers, collaborators, family and friends to remember Professor Kaplan’s remarkable intellectual contributions, his deep commitment to South Africa’s development, and the lasting influence of his work on economic and industrial policy.

Speakers reflected not only on his distinguished academic career, but also on his generosity as a mentor, his collegial spirit, and his quiet but enduring leadership.
Reflections from a wide range of scholars, policy practitioners and close collaborators, alongside personal tributes from family members, painted a portrait of a scholar whose work shaped institutions, debates and lives.

The memorial served as a heartfelt celebration of Professor Kaplan’s life and as an affirmation of his enduring legacy within the School of Economics and the broader policy community, bringing together an academic and personal community to honour his life, intellectual legacy, and the profound human impact he had on colleagues, students and friends.