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The Africa we want

27 June 2023 | Story Valentino Ndaba | Photo Charl Devenish

“The Africa we want can only be achieved by promoting good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law, a peaceful and secure Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values, and ethics,” said Shelton Makore, Senior Law Lecturer in the University of the Free State Department of Mercantile Law.

He further remarked that, “Such an approach will enable Africa to have economic, political, and social development that is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by the people of Africa, especially its women and youth, caring for children, and an Africa that is strong, united, resilient, and an influential global player and partner.”

Makore's statement encapsulated a concise summary of the dialogue he moderated, which took place during Africa Month and was organised by the Faculty of Law. The main purpose of the dialogue was to delve into the African Union's Agenda 2063, titled ‘The Africa we want’, with a specific focus on advancing justice in Africa to achieve sustainable development. The discussions revolved around the idea of fostering a politically united and integrated continent that embraces the principles of Pan-Africanism and the vision of African Renaissance.

Looking back on Africa Month

The Faculty of Law hosted a two-tier Africa Day event on the Bloemfontein Campus on 25 May 2023. It included a round-table dialogue on 'Advancing Justice with a View of the Future: The 2063 Agenda for Sustainable Development' and a cultural exhibition titled: 'Appreciating Knowledge through Culture'.

Prof Danie Brand, Director of the Free State Centre for Human Rights at the UFS, Ntando Sindane, Lecturer in the Department of Private Law, and Dr Isolde de Villiers, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Mercantile Law, were part of the panel of experts who facilitated a discussion that looked through the lens of seven aspirational themes:

A prosperous Africa, based on inclusive growth and sustainable development
An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of African Renaissance
An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law
A peaceful and secure Africa
Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values, and ethics
An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential offered by African people, especially its women and youth, and caring for children
An Africa as a strong, united, resilient, and influential global player and partner

Africa’s futureEnvisioning

During the discussion, Prof Brand underscored the importance of fostering cultural diversity as a means to achieve inclusivity and a sustainable future. On the other hand, Sindane highlighted the necessity of engaging in self-reflection and adapting to the challenges posed by neoliberal and neo-colonial economic structures, aiming to address poverty, hunger, and deprivation in Africa. The panellists delved into a comprehensive exploration of the Sustainable Development Goals and their significant role in shaping the desired future for Africa. Dr De Villiers highlighted the impact of spatial injustice on people's lives, emphasising the need for fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities within cities and towns.

The dialogue generated valuable insights on repositioning Africa as a beacon of hope, inclusivity, justice, and prosperity, aligning with the UFS Vision 130 strategic plan. Additionally, the exhibition added to the dialogue's impact, featuring impressive displays of cultural attire, food, and artefacts by students representing diverse African countries.

News Archive

#Women’sMonth: Who am I? Questions of identity among Rwandan rape survivors

2017-08-03

Michelle Nöthling, master’s degree student
in the Centre for Trauma, Forgiveness, and
Reconciliation Studies at the UFS.
Photo: Eugene Seegers

From 7 April to 15 July 1994, a mass genocide swept through Rwanda after years of Belgian colonial rule that divided the country along ethnic lines. Rape was also used as part of a political strategy to torture and humiliate mainly Tutsi women, and as a means of spreading HIV.

Individual focus
Why is it important to listen to what these rape survivors have to say? Michelle Nöthling, a master’s student in the UFS Centre for Trauma, Forgiveness, and Reconciliation Studies, responds, “We speak of groups – refugees, foreigners, and the like – yet we tend to forget the individuals and the lasting impact trauma has had on each person.”

Narrative exploration
Michelle maintains that we are the product of the narratives around us; things like – how to be a woman, how to dress, speak, or treat others. Her research delves into how these rape survivors see themselves, how they narrate their lives. She also investigates power relations based on gender; for example, how language can be used as a divisive tool.

Rwandan backdrop
In Rwanda, gender roles are deeply entrenched. Traditionally, a ‘girl’ remains such while she is a virgin. Her transition into womanhood is usually marked by marriage and followed by motherhood. But rape disrupts this structure, leading to an identity crisis as these girls are catapulted into motherhood with an unplanned child resulting from a traumatic event.

“We are the product of
the narratives around us.”

Reaching their mid-teens, the children, too, started asking questions about identity or paternity. For those mothers who were finally able to open up to their children, the experience has been mostly liberating – often leading to a closer relationship between parent and child. Michelle intends to interrogate how such significant moments shape the way these women perceive themselves. Research tends to portray these survivors solely as mothers of rape-born children. Michelle, however, seeks to examine their identities more deeply.

“These survivors still bear the heavy burden of being marginalised, stigmatised, and severely humiliated. Despite this, they have developed their own communities of belonging; people with whom they connect, to whom they relate, and to whom they are not ashamed to tell their experiences,” she said.

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