ZivaHub: Open Data UCT , is an online, institutional data repository that serves as a publishing and access platform to research data and scholarly outputs. It is powered by Figshare for Institutions  and is available to all students and staff at UCT. Ziva is the Shona word for knowledge.

ZivaHub’s mission is to make the research data captured by the University of Cape Town staff and students FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable). Its objective is to ensure that such data remains accessible to researchers and the public from around the world, and preserve it for future generations. In accessing ZivaHub, you are accepting the Terms of Access .

ZivaHub is certified as a trustworthy repository, having been awarded the Core Trust Seal in January 2025.

Some of the key features of the system are:

• 20GB of Personal Storage
• Flexible Storage Quote for Projects
• Upload any file format
• Get DOIs (persistent identifiers) for your research outputs
• Increase citations and boost your research metrics
• Comply with NRF and other funders’ requirements
• Control how your research outputs are accessed
• Validate and authenticate your research outputs

To get started, consult the DLS ZivaHub guide . You can also view the ZivaHub Policy .

Before you upload your datasets, you need to accept the ZivaHub terms of data deposit . When you submit your dataset for publication, it will go into review by a Digital Library Services curator, before being openly published on the platform. In collaboration with a designated Data Steward from your department, the DLS curator will check the metadata of the submitted item and, if appropriate, offer suggestions on how it may be improved upon for optimal citability, discoverability, integrity and reusability.

All published items on ZivaHub qualify to be preserved on UCT's Digital Preservation System Izolo.

The full terms and conditions of use can be found in the ZivaHub Regulation .