The Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs (TM-School) at Unisa recently held its premier interactive event, "Conversation with former President Dr Thabo Mbeki", at the Unisa Muckleneuk Campus, Tshwane. This significant platform, attended by scholars, dignitaries, the Unisa community and its alumni, provided a unique opportunity to deeply engage with the university's Chancellor and former President, Dr Thabo Mbeki, on critical socio-economic, gender, political matters and, in addition, pressing local and global issues.

A truly African school

In her welcome address, Prof Edith Phaswana, Acting Executive Dean of the TM-School, praised the gathering, stating that it gives the public a platform to publicly engage with former President Mbeki on critical issues affecting the country and the global community. Phaswana stated that the TM-School embodies Mbeki's leadership qualities, vision and values, and continues to contribute to the African renaissance, the renewal of the African continent, and is poised to position itself as a globally impactful continental school. She continued: "Its mission has always been to train leaders to solve complex societal problems in Africa and beyond. The school enmeshes African philosophies, epistemologies and methodologies to counter the social ills confronting the African continent and the world."

From left: Prof David Mello, Acting Director: Academic Programmes, TM-School; Prof Edith Phaswana, Acting Executive Dean, TM-School; and Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Puleng LenkaBula.

Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (PVC), Prof Puleng LenkaBula, affirmed the prestigious dialogue as an opportunity for South Africans to engage directly with former President Mbeki. In addition, the PVC argued that the gathering created an intergenerational encounter, which, she said, included people who fought for the country's freedom, those who helped build democracy, and those who have seen the country's problems and worked to find solutions. The PVC believes that the meeting is important for South Africa, Africa and the world, as it allows people to discuss how South Africa can continue to be a positive force in the world.

Russia and Ukraine

In his keynote address, Mbeki started by briefly outlining the historical background of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine as he responded to critical questions raised by the panel and audience. He expounded: "Russia and Ukraine shared a long history, with Ukraine being part of the Russian Empire. However, Russia began to be concerned about Ukraine's ties with Western countries, particularly the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Russia had feared that Ukraine's alignment with NATO could pose a potential security threat to its borders. These matters, exacerbated by the removal of the then democratically elected President of Ukraine by his parliament, Viktor Yanukovych, in 2014, who later sought refuge in Russia for political reprisals, saw the gradual increase in tensions between the two countries, which led to the two-year long war." Mbeki added that South Africa has since taken a non-alignment position and continues to advocate for peace from both sides.

Former President and Unisa Chancellor, Dr Thabo Mbeki.

Israel and Palestine

Regarding the war between Palestine and Israel, Mbeki argued that the governing party supported a two-state resolution in support of a decision taken by the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) during a conference in Oslo, Norway. However, this possibility ceased to exist. "The practical possibility for a two-state solution at the moment is not possible, yet we cannot continue to allow a situation where the rights of the Palestinian people are disrespected. Therefore, we are stuck with a conundrum," he stressed.

"The International Court of Justice (ICJ) 's most recent decision that the settlements on the West Bank are illegal, in other words, post-1948, the occupation of Palestinian land is illegal according to ICJ, but the Israelis completely ignore what the ICJ says – creating a situation where the rights of the Palestinians are not addressed," stated Mbeki.

"This situation," he continued, "will not cease at the present moment, and any attempt to persuade the Palestinians not to fight for their rights will fail. Therefore, they will continue to fight for their rights, and the Israelis will continue their monologue of self-defence."

Gender mainstreaming

Regarding gender issues and violence, Mbeki emphasised the need for South Africa to reflect on its perspectives on the matters. He pointed out that the country faces a significant challenge known as gender mainstreaming. For instance, he stated that women are uniquely affected when they take maternity leave, which can sometimes hinder their chances of promotion compared to their male counterparts. Mbeki mentioned that a university in the United States addressed this issue by setting up a kindergarten on campus. He said this should be one of the leading examples of equality for both men and women in the workplace.

Mbeki made another example concerning women's leadership and elections. He explained: "Take election season, for instance; there is a lot of resistance from the population to elect women as their representatives. This necessitates the use of quotas." On having a woman President of the country, Mbeki firmly stated that the struggles faced by women will not necessarily improve simply due to having a female president. He emphasised that leadership alone does not directly resolve gender inequality, as women's conditions do not automatically change just because a woman holds the highest office.

Gender-based violence

Mbeki expressed concern about the alarming levels of violence in the country, particularly among young adults, noting the leading cause of death as something that can be amended. He said: "The country is exceedingly violent. Take a look at the young adult age group; you find that the single biggest cause of death among young men is unnatural causes. Within this age group, you also find the figures of women being killed intolerably high. We must address this matter of gender-based violence (GBV), particularly violence, within a broader social context."

On the latest crime figures, Mbeki said he was perplexed by the latest crime and violence figures, which paint a grim picture of the country's society on the value of life. "We need to find solutions that address the root causes of this violence, fostering dialogue, conflict resolution, and greater respect for human life," he added. 

Postdoctoral fellows and panellists: Dr Zaakirah Jeeva, Dr Koli Matebese Nontshulwana and Dr Bongani Nkuna.

Throughout the event, Mbeki continued to engage with the audience, who were eager to hear his perspectives on a wide range of critical issues, including socio-economic challenges, gender equality and political dynamics.

This annual dialogue fosters a deeper understanding of society's complex issues, encourages open discussion, and promotes collaborative efforts to find sustainable solutions locally and globally.

Watch the video of the event

* By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

** Photography by Shooheima Champion, Multimedia Centre