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13 December 2023 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Siyabonga Mazibuko and Anthony Mthembu
Sharon Pinky Kekana
Sharon Pinky Kekana: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.

The Gender Equality and Anti-Discrimination Office (GEADO) at the University of the Free State (UFS), in collaboration with the Central University of Technology (CUT), recently concluded its fourth bi-annual Gender Practitioners Community of Practice (CoP) conference in Clarens. The event, held from 28 to 30 November 2023, drew participation from gender practitioners representing all 26 Universities across the country. Distinguished guest speaker, Sharon Pinky Kekana, Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, added valuable insights to the discussions.

Tumelo Rasebopye, Chairperson of the Gender Practitioners Community of Practice (CoP), outlined the conference’s key objectives, emphasising the need for thorough and robust engagement on issues raised in previous gatherings and the provision of essential tools for practitioners to implement upon their return to their institutions. Rasebopye stressed, ‘Part of the conference is to ensure that we engage in developing a common understanding and act at a baseline level to address the dynamics in our institutions.’’

The themes explored throughout the Conference

The conference delved into various themes through panel discussions and guest speaker sessions, covering topics such as masculinity, culture, and consent. However, the primary focus was on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), particularly pertinent during the ‘16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.’ Kekana, in her address, considered the conference theme, ‘Accelerating actions to end gender-based violence & femicide: leaving no one behind,’ as a call to action. She urged attendees to continue to raise awareness about the devastating impact of GBVF on women, children and the nation as a whole, citing alarming statistics of 969 women murdered in the first three months of the year. 

Advocate Brenda Madumise, Co-Founder of the Wise Collective, highlighted flaws in the national justice system, pointing to prolonged sexual assault cases and the trauma inflicted on survivors during the waiting period.

Resolutions

Reflecting on the conference, Kekana deemed the discussions as an eye-opener, stressing an integrated approach involving various societal entities, including the church and religious leaders. The gender practitioners pledged to collaborate with groups such as the Student Representative Council (SRC) within their institutions to foster inclusivity.  Rasebopye affirmed, ‘’Our existence is fundamental towards the transformation of higher education, and these conferences will inform the necessary actions towards that course.’’

The GEADO, in partnership with CUT, continues to champion gender equality through informed and actionable discussions. The conference not only raised awareness about GBVF but also galvanized gender practitioners to play an active role in fostering inclusive environments within higher education institutions.
Sharon Pinky Kekana: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Sharon Pinky Kekana: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Sharon Pinky Kekana: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Sharon Pinky Kekana: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Advocate Brenda Madumise: Co-Founder of the Wise Collective
Advocate Brenda Madumise: Co-Founder of the Wise Collective
Audience participating in creating inclusive spaces within higher learning institutions.
Audience participating in creating inclusive spaces within higher learning institutions.
Audience participating in creating inclusive spaces within higher learning institutions.
Audience participating in creating inclusive spaces within higher learning institutions.
Sharon Pinky Kekana: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Sharon Pinky Kekana: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Lecturer and Head of Department for Interior Design at the Tshwane University of Technology
Lecturer and Head of Department for Interior Design at the Tshwane University of Technology
Audience participating in creating inclusive spaces within higher learning institutions.
Audience participating in creating inclusive spaces within higher learning institutions.
Dr Molapo Qhobela, Sharon Pinky Kekana, and Tumelo Rasebopye
Dr Molapo Qhobela, Sharon Pinky Kekana, and Tumelo Rasebopye

News Archive

Max du Preez on South Africa’s leadership vacuum
2011-08-29

 

Present at the CR Swart Memorial Lecture was, from the left: Prof. Hussein Solomon, senior Professor in our Department of Political Science; Prof. Theo Neethling, Head of our Department of Political Science; Max du Preez and Prof. Lucius Botes,Dean of our Faculty of Humanities.
Photo: Stephen Collett

“Much has been going wrong in South Africa in the last few years and it’s all due to a lack of strong, visionary leadership. South Africans deserve better and should demand more integrity, courage and vision from the present political leadership,” veteran journalist and author Max du Preez told the audience at a packed Wynand Mouton Theatre at our university, on 25 August 2011.

Delivering this year’s CR Swart Memorial Lecture on the topic “Of Jacob, Julius, Jimmy and the Dancing Monkey”, Du Preez told the audience to look with much more critical eyes at the political leadership and decide who is doing the obvious, following his or her basest instincts or simply trying to play to the gallery. “Why look at a man like Julius Malema and let him upset us, why listen to Floyd Shivambu with his crude manners and let them define us?” Du Preez asked the more than 300 people attending the memorial lecture. The CR Swart Memorial Lecture, the 41st hosted by the UFS, attracted one of the largest crowds ever for a public lecture, with some people sitting on the steps inside the auditorium of the Wynand theatre.
 
Telling the story of African philospher Morena Mohlomi, who acted as a teacher to Basuto king Moshoeshoe, Du Preez told the audience that the country needs counter-intuitive leadership like the two leaders had demonstrated. Calling Mohlomi southern Africa’s first Pan Africanist, Du Preez said the extroadinary thing about Morena Mohlomi and his student was their gift of counter-intuitive leadership, leadership that was daring and visionary, leadership that did not simply do the obvious. Pointing out other visionary leaders like Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Beyers Naude and Van Zyl Slabbert, Du Preez urged the audience to question “the quality of leadership of Cosatu, the Democratic Teachers Union that is messing up our education, the Communist Party, the Democratic Alliance, the Freedom Front Plus and Solidarity. If they don’t live up to our expectations, why do we still tolerate them?” Du Preez asked.
 
Du Preez also commended Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice Chancellor and Rector of the UFS, for his counter-intuitive leadership regarding the Reitz Residence incident and said Prof. Jansen’s solution, as controversial as it was, brought a much better outcome.
 
Please find attached the full speech of Max Du Preez.

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