Around 600 people – most of them Rhodes University staff and their families, and students, gathered in front of the clock tower at 11am on Friday 6 December to mark Nelson Mandela’s death.
Around 600 people – most of them Rhodes University staff and their families, and students, gathered in front of the clock tower at 11am on Friday 6 December to mark Nelson Mandela’s death.
President Jacob Zuma announced the death of the former President of South Africa on Thursday night. He made the statement on national radio and television shortly before midnight, saying that Mandela had passed away peacefully in the company of his family at his home around 8.50pm on Thursday, 5 December 2013.
Mandela's capacity for forgiveness was a strong theme throughout addresses by key representatives of the university community. These alternated with struggle-era songs, sung by a group of Rhodes staff at the core of the gathering.
Preceded by a rendering of the emotive 'Show us the way to freedom', Dean of Students Dr Vivian de Klerk delivered the citation presented at the conferring of Mandela's honorary doctorate at Rhodes University in 2002.
"Forgiveness was his chief weapon," De Klerk said. "The more honoured he became, the more humble he became."
Distinguished Professor Paul Maylam said Mandela had undoubtedly become the most revered figure in South African history.
He spoke of how the style of politics had changed during the time Mandela was in prison, with the introduction of spin-doctoring. He said by contrast, Mandela's statesmanship had been characterised by basic courtesy and moral integrity.
Beyond his political achievements, Maylam said, Mandela was a "wonderful, thoroughly decent human being."
Vice-chancellor Saleem Badat spoke of his introduction, as a student, to Mandela through his writings.
He described his own involvement in struggle politics as editor of community newspaper Grassroots and activist in the Release Mandela Campaign in the 80s. He said his own resulting periods of political detention had been "a small price to pay to help secure Madiba's release".
"We are not yet free, though," Badat said. "South Africa is severely lacking ethical and accountable leadership – which demoralises all of us. The true test of our devotion to freedom is just beginning."
SRC liaison Eric Ofie, chair of the local branch of the National Tertiary Educators Union Oscar Eybers, Nehawu shop steward Phili Ngxitho and Anglican Bishop Ebenezer Ntlali were the other speakers, with deputy vice-chancellor Dr Sizwe Mabizela as MC.
Among other the announcements made were that the university’s counselling centre would be open for grieving staff and students. A Rhodes delegation will attend the funeral in Qunu on Sunday. The University will also host a memorial service.
