Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as Chancellor
3 November 2007
Tshwane University of Technology welcomed Deputy President, Phumzile
Mlambo-Ngcuka, into the academic fraternity at an Installation Ceremony held at
the Pretoria West Campus on Friday, 2 November 2007. The Deputy President is
the second woman Chancellor of the university and succeeds the late Adelaide
Tambo who was installed in 2005.
In paying tribute to the institution's former Chancellor, Mama Adelaide
Tambo, the Deputy President acknowledged the magnitude of her contributions to
South Africa, and noted in particular her passion for education. She also
acknowledged the enormous contributions Mama Tambo's chancellorship had on the
University.
"The wisdom, leadership, embrace of life that Mama Adelaide exhibited has
given a footprint that is forever in our hearts and in front of our eyes," said
the Deputy President.
The new chancellor reiterated Mama Tambo's sentiments on the importance of
education in a free South Africa, saying: "the task of advancing education is
the greatest single shield we have to protect this nation from the invasion of
poverty, the burden of incurable and avoidable diseases, the helplessness and
marginalisation of whole communities and generations."
The Deputy President also paid tribute to Bantu Steve Biko and urged the
gathering to draw upon the example set by political icon.
"Biko made it clear that our mission was not just learning to imitate the
white masters who enslaved us but to 'decolonise the mind' to know that we are
masters of our destiny not a project of white masters; we are not a 'native
problem' but an African Solution," she said.
In expressing her vision for the future of South Africa and the University,
the Deputy President expressed the desire to see education focusing attention
on instilling greater civic duty amongst students, saying: "education must
socialise us and instil the pride in a shared and better tomorrow as against
making a 'fast buck' or having a 'I, me and myself' mentality."
She went on to emphasise the importance of providing quality education in
all tertiary institutions, the desire to see Tshwane University of technology
(TUT) and other tertiary institutions working harder "â¦for the development and
liberation of young and old minds."
Minister of Education, Naledi Pandor, who also attended the ceremony also
addressed the gathering welcomed the Deputy President as a "colleague in
education".
The Minister congratulated the Deputy President on her appointment as
Chancellor, saying also that she "⦠could not have thought of a more suitable
candidate to follow in the footsteps of our late comrade, Mama Adelaide
Tambo."
Ms Pandor also expressed her confidence in the leadership the Deputy
President would offer the University, and expressed the desire to see her
presence in the education sector as inspiration to "â¦provide us with renewed
strength and enthusiasm to keep our "skills revolution" turning."
The Deputy President, who began her career as an educator is passionately
committed to skills development in South Africa. Through her leadership in
programmes like the Joint Initiative for Priority Skills Acquisition (Jipsa)
numerous programmes are being unveiled throughout the country to create the
skills South Africa needs to enjoy sustainable growth.
Enquiries:
Thabang Chiloane
Spokesperson of the Deputy President
Cell: 082 888 8783
Issued by: The Presidency
3 November 2007
