KwaZulu-Natal Premier Senzo Mchunu has expressed his condolences to the family, relatives and friends of a renowned academic Professor Charles Abraham Nkabinde who passed away this week. In 1978, Professor Nkabinde was appointed the first black Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zululand (Ongoye), a position he held for 15 years.
“The University of Zululand produced statesmen, intellectuals, thinkers and leaders of note. These includes Mr Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency; Dr Blade Nzimande - Minister of Higher Education; Dr Sbu Ndebele – former Minister of Correctional Services; Bathabile Dlamini – Minister of Social Development; Sandile Ngcobo - former Chief Justice; Mogoeng Mogoeng - Chief Justice of South Africa and Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the Chairperson of the African Union.
“Although his untimely death has brought sorrow to all of us, we are consoled by the fact that Professor Nkabinde saw many of his students maturing not only to become leaders of our struggle for freedom but also leading the transformation of a apartheid state into a democratic government that represents the will of the people.”
“We hope that one day, individual members of Nkabinde family will have a peace of mind knowing that their father and uncle departed after witnessing his former students attaining huge international recognition and respect amongst the world leaders.”
“We offer the Nkabinde family our support during this sad moment and hope they will amass enough strength and courage to deal with this sad loss.”
“Rest in Peace… Lala ngoxolo Ncusi, Mbuyisa, Ndimande kaGama.”
In 1963 Professor Charles Abraham Nkabinde he joined the Zulu Department at the then University College of Zululand. He completed his MA in 1966 and was promoted to the position of Senior Lecturer in 1967. In 1975 he completed his DLitt, and was promoted to Professor and spent the year as a Research Fellow in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh.
He translated Waldemar Bonsels' “Die Biene Maya” from German into Zulu, as “Umaya imigidingo yenyosi” and published “An Introduction to Zulu Syntax”. He established a team which initiated the compilation of a Zulu dictionary. In 1978, he was appointed UNZULU Rector and Vice-Chancellor a position he held for 15 years.
He operated under difficult conditions, being the only black person on staff, during the dark days of apartheid where black people were relegated to second class citizens of their country.
He will be remembered for his contribution to the promotion of African languages, as he was responsible for setting Matric examination papers for many years. He possessed a passion for the development and conservations of isiZulu. He retired at the age of 63 years.
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