Long-serving Black Sash stalwart Di Oliver was honoured for her role in advancing peace and justice in South Africa when she became the first recipient of UCT's Chancellor's Medal on 12 December.
The award was instituted by the University Council in 2007 to honour those who have "made a significant contribution to a common good".
In a letter to Oliver, inviting her to accept the award, vice-chancellor Dr Max Price said: "Your record of having profoundly impacted the lives of many, and no doubt continuing to do so, is remarkable."
Oliver (née Bishop) was a member of the Black Sash from 1978 until membership closed in 1995. She has been a trustee of the Black Sash Trust since then, serving as its chairperson between 2005 and 2006. She is a board member of a number of NGOs and an active parishioner at St George's Cathedral, where she is a lay minister and the co-ordinator at Caritas (the Cathedral's caring ministries) and the Cathedral Justice and Reconciliation group.
In an interview with UCT's Monday Paper, Oliver said she was thrilled.
"I was completely taken by surprise. I hold UCT in such high regard," she said.
"I consider it an honour and a great recognition of the importance of civil society activism in our country. The work I have done has formed me. It is a reciprocal thing."