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Unisa lecture reflects on human dignity and economic prosperity
The 12th Annual Neville Alexander Memorial Lecture was held in Cape Town recently, under the theme “The State of the Economy”. This year’s lecture was delivered by Professor Bonang Mohale, Chancellor of the University of the Free State. The lecture commenced with opening remarks and welcome by Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Puleng LenkaBula. The VC noted that the theme resonated with that of Unisa for 2024, namely ”Reclaiming Africa’s intellectuals in the past 150 years and beyond”. She referred to Alexander as an “intellectual giant”, one who did not limit his horizons to South Africa, but was committed to global social justice, including the formation and strengthening of South Africa’s democracy.
From left: Dr Zamangwane Khanyile, Head: Counselling And Career Development, Unisa Western Cape, Dr Shahieda Jansen, Acting Regional Director, Unisa Western Cape, Prof Moloko Sepota, Acting Registrar, Unisa, Prof Patience Kelebogile Mudau, Acting CoD, Department of Curriculum and Instructional Studies, Unisa, Prof Everisto Benyera, Department Of Political Sciences, Unisa, and Prof Humphrey Mogashoa, Acting Deputy Registrar: Student Administration and System Integration, Unisa
Echoing the sentiments of the VC, Professor Moloko Sepota, Unisa’s Acting Registrar, reminded those in attendance that “the life that touches others, goes on forever”. He reiterated that the university is extremely proud to be associated with Alexander and his line of thinking. He affirmed that the reason that Unisa is 151 years old and going strong is “because of its ability to transform itself significantly at every generational point”.
Leading the commemoration of the legacy of the renowned political activist and proponent of mother tongue education, Professor Bonang Mohale left the audience spellbound, as he delivered his extemporaneous lecture to a packed venue. Between anecdotes and statistics, Mohale intertwined history, politics, and the (poor) choices of political leadership to reveal the forces that have shaped the extreme and intractable black unemployment that drives South Africa’s poverty and inequality.
Prof Bonang Mohale delivers the keynote address at the 12th Annual Neville Alexander Memorial Lecture
One of the two discussants, both from Unisa, Professor Everisto Benyera, contextualised his response to Mohale with the concept of social death. By social death he referred to the loss of personal dignity that individuals in postcolonial contexts like South Africa are often sentenced to. This theme of the loss of self was continued by Professor Patience Kelebogile Mudau, as she raised the concerns with mother tongue education. She linked the destruction of language to later struggles of individuals to find their place in the economy.
These stimulating intellectual exchanges provoked vibrant audience participation with the panel of eloquent orators. This memorial lecture not only honoured the legacy of Alexander but ventured into the unfinished business of mother tongue instruction and highlighted the direct relationship between human dignity and economic prosperity.
Click here to view a recording of the lecture
* By Dr Shahieda Jansen, Acting Regional Director, Unisa Western Cape, and Vicky-Lee Lee Shew, Acting Communications and Marketing Manager, Unisa Western Cape
Publish date: 2024/11/11
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