College of Human Sciences

Becoming agents of transformation

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Prof Mandla Makhanya (Unisa Vice-Chancellor) sealing the Reformation plaque as he finished planting the Reformation tree at the e-garden during the Reformation, Transformation and Change Agency event.

“Five hundred years ago to this day Martin Luther posted a 95 theses to start the Protestant Reformation and today we posted a plaque in the middle of Unisa in the e-garden and that plaque is our compass to monitor our change and transformation.”

These were the opening words of Prof Divya Singh as she reflected on the planting of the tree by Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mandla Makhanya in the e-garden. The Department of Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology in the College of Human Sciences hosted a public lecture on reformation, transformation and change agency to celebrate the 500 years of reformation.

Prof Singh elaborated that there is little doubt that our country is at a tipping point with the notion of the social contract between the state and society being more critical and one of the pivotal role players in this challenging time must be the church as a leader, moderator and facilitator in charting the course of change. The big question is, where are the faith communities are today?

It was against this backdrop that the Change Agency project was birthed at Unisa, when Prof Erna Oliver in true spirit of her name decided to combine her three passions which consist of the values of Christian spirituality, social and community upliftment and academic innovation. The Change Agent Project was a project that looked deeply into communities and society and one of the outcomes of the project was a publication focusing on the dynamics of change, transformation and reformation. The successes of the project involved a number of academics who contributed as authors to the publication including Professor Makhanya himself.

The department proudly stated that Prof Makhanya’s commitment to transformation and his continuous support and encouragement made a difference in the project when there were difficult times.

“It is said on this day of October five centuries ago Martin Luther, a German theological scholar had spent his time as a monk reflecting on the virtues and vices of the Roman Catholic Church penned his 95 theses which would trigger the birth of the Protestant Reformation church, and more than four centuries later another civil rights activist named after Martin Luther, Dr Martin Luther King junior delivered his famous speech I have a dream.”

Prof Makhanya took the audience through great historical moments which were influenced by Martin Luther and Dr Martin Luther King jnr. He made a strong point that both these Christian figures had a great impact on human history although they lived centuries apart, their deep convictions and incisive gaze on the true meaning of theology and scriptures in the face of injustice often committed the very same religion as a platform.

As a sociologist he is often reminded and mindful of how historical moments and social conditions interface with individual role players or leaders to shape any evolution of history. As he ended his address he said this year is a year where we are yearning for ethical quality leadership which our past leaders represented and South Africa and Africa in the world today face a number of serious challenges which demand that we all become agents of transformation in our various spaces for social economic and political justice.

*By Nomshado Lubisi (CHS communications and marketing)

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Publish date: 2017/12/01

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