Keynote Address:
Judge Tshifhiwa Maumela, Judge of the North Gauteng High Court
Discussants:
Dr Khulu Mbatha, Academic, Author, Columnist, Diplomat & Exhibitor
Mr Irfaan Mangera, Youth Activism Program Manager, Ahmed Kathrada Foundation
Dr Khwezi Mabasa, Former MISTRA Senior Researcher in the Faculty of Political Economy
In partnership with the Tambo Foundation, UNISA held the 2nd Oliver Tambo Annual Memorial Lecture and gala dinner on the 21st of October 2022. Themed Reclaiming And Re-Imagining O.R. Tambo’s Visionary Role In Student Leadership In The Aftermath Of The Covid-19 Pandemic, the lecture was presented by Judge Maumela of the North Gauteng High Court and was then followed by inputs from each of the esteemed discussants.
In his keynote address, Judge Maumela emphasised the importance of emulating Tambo’s life, character and leadership. He shared with the audience the virtues of being a great leader and reflected on O.R. Tambo as a student leader who fought hard to eradicate racism, oppression and all forms of discrimination.
The Foundation’s chosen youth representative – Irfaan Mangera, the Programme Manager of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation’s Youth Activism Programme – shared these reflections:
“What does it mean to be a visionary? Today we face a severe lack of anything visionary. Much of what we have today, is a collective failure of a leadership who don’t believe or have a vision of a future worth fighting for.
Political parties and their members are caught up in the internal battles of their parties and the constant quest for power. Very few are actually engaged in progressive thinking, debate, discussion and deep deliberation on the issues we are faced with in our time, and how we can solve them.
To be visionary one ought to be daring enough, and courageous enough to see a possibility, where none currently exists. If none of us dare to dream and dare to challenge these reactionary forces who profit off our continued suffering…How will we change things?
Cde O.R. was a humble leader.
Cde O.R. was a strict leader.
He had the greatest attention to detail…
How many of us today can truly say we live up to that legacy?”
To watch the full lecture, visit https://youtu.be/Ra7piBGzem4
