In partnership with Kagiso Trust, the Rhodes University Business School will host the Beyers Naudé Memorial Lecture on Wednesday, 11 September 2024, at the Rhodes University Drama Department’s Main Theatre. This event marks a significant opportunity to reflect on 30 years of South African democracy, engaging in meaningful discussions about the nation’s progress and remaining challenges.
The Beyers Naudé Memorial Lecture was established to honour Dr Beyers Naudé, a founding member and patron of Kagiso Trust, and a prominent anti-apartheid activist. His unwavering commitment to racial equality and human rights continues to inspire the lecture series, now a vital platform for critical conversations about building a just and inclusive society. This year’s theme, “Building a Nation Together: Reflections from the People,” highlights South Africa’s journey post-apartheid, celebrating democratic achievements while addressing issues such as racial reconciliation, social justice, and leadership.
This year’s lecture is particularly notable as it is the first to be held at Rhodes University in Makhanda and coincides with the university’s 120th anniversary. It serves as an important moment for reflection, fostering dialogue on South Africa’s transition to democracy and the nation’s ongoing efforts toward equality.
The keynote speaker for the event is Peter Harris, a Rhodes alumnus, distinguished lawyer, and mediator who played a key role in overseeing South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. His experiences and insights on democracy and the pursuit of justice will enrich the discussion.
Alongside Harris, Kagiso Trust’s CEO, Mankodi Moitse, will discuss the impact of Beyers Naudé’s legacy and the importance of fostering activism and citizenship. Rhodes University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, will outline the broader context of nation-building, particularly within the framework of educational excellence, ethical leadership, and transformative social development.
“We are delighted that the first of three annual lectures under our agreement with Rhodes coincides with the university’s 120th anniversary celebrations and that it will further enhance the significant collaboration between Kagiso Trust, the university and the Makhanda Circle of Unity, a structure that strengthens the collective voice of the community within the local governance framework,” says Moitse.
The 2024 theme is particularly fitting for a year in which South Africa celebrates 30 years of democracy, says Moitse. This sentiment is shared by Prof Owen Skae, Director of the Rhodes University Business School, who says: “Kagiso Trust and the Rhodes Business School view this event as an essential moment for reflection on the progress and ongoing challenges of South African democracy, and our collective role in nation-building. As the country continues to navigate complex social issues, the university remains committed to fostering dialogue and driving positive change.
Proceedings on 11 September will begin at 18h00 after a short performance by the Rhodes University Chamber Choir. To watch on Facebook, go to the Kagiso Trust page, and to join on Zoom please register here.
Harris’s lecture will be followed by a panel discussion and an open conversation in which the audience can participate.
About Kagiso Trust:
Kagiso Trust is a leading development agency committed to empowering disadvantaged communities in South Africa through sustainable development initiatives. With a focus on education, Kagiso Trust aims to create opportunities for all South Africans to achieve their full potential.
About Peter Harris
Peter Harris is an attorney, a founding member of Cheadle Thompson and Haysom and a founding partner of Harris Nupen Molebatsi Attorneys. He holds a BA LLB (Rhodes), LLM (Warwick), an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Warwick University and is a Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution accredited mediator.
He focuses on advisory services in commercial law, public law, labour law and dispute resolution. He has managed and facilitated complex and sensitive multi-stakeholder facilitations and his clients include governments, state-owned entities and blue chip corporates.
Harris led the establishment of the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in 1996. He was appointed director of the Wits/Vaal region of the National Peace Accord and was responsible for brokering agreements between political parties to promote peace and stability in South Africa. And he was chief director for the monitoring directorate of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa in 1994.
He worked as director of programmes at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance in Stockholm, is an operations consultant to the UN electoral assistance division and has advised in numerous countries for the UN.
He is the editor of the publication “Democracy and Deep Rooted Conflict: Options for Negotiators”, with a foreword by the former UN secretary general, Kofi Annan (1998). He is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books.
About Prof Sizwe Mabizela
Professor Sizwe Mabizela is the vice-chancellor of Rhodes University, a position he has held since 2014. With a PhD in mathematics from Pennsylvania State University, US, Mabizela has had a distinguished academic career marked by his commitment to educational excellence and leadership.
Under his guidance, Rhodes University has excelled in research, community engagement, and fostering critical discourse. His work is driven by a commitment to integrity, ethical leadership and the transformative power of education in creating a just and equitable society.
