Motivations for naming the buildings

Nomzamo Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

Prof Nkoana Simon Radipere Building

Prof Nkoana Simon Radipere is documented as having been a profound figure at Unisa. He was a seasoned  scholar whose research was on addressing the socio-political issues in South Africa. He contributed to the Unisa academia by mentoring novice researchers across colleges. Prof Radipere was involved in the PresidentObama leadership initiative, YALI (Young African leadership initiative) and that speaks volumes in terms of advancing Africa as a continent. He served in management committees and was a CoD in the Department of Entrepreneurship. His passion and dedication to education, which has inspired some of us, saw him sacrificing his health to come and attend to the responsibilities at work and leading to his departure from mother earth to his creator at the entrance of the AJH Van Der Walt Building. It is such sacrifices that need to be commemorated by naming a building after a fallen academia giant.

Simiso Nkwanyana Building

Simiso Nkwanyana was one of the founding members of the Unisa SRC. He served as KZN SRC president from 1995 to 1996. After the first general elections of the SRC in 1996, he was elected as an SRC General Secretary. Simiso Nkwanyana was a popular student leader and was adored by Unisa Students. He was part of the Delegation, which was instrumental in fighting for the funding of Unisa students by TEFSA (currently known as NSFAS) which at the time was only reserved for students who studied at full-time Universities. He subsequently made numerous submissions to the Higher Education Portfolio Committee which was chaired by Dr Blade Nzimande, actively participated in the amendments of the then Higher Education Act 101 of 1997.Simiso actively contributed in the development of White Paper on Higher Education during the period of 1996-98 under what was referred to as the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) by that time, which subsequently moved to be known as CHE.

Anton Lembede Building

Lembede was a student at the University of South Africa and completed his masters in the Department of Philosophy (which is now known as the Department of Philosophy, Practical & Systematic Theology).