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16 January 2024 | Story Lunga Luthuli | Photo Lunga Luthuli
Prof Mpumelelo read more

Prof Mpumelelo Ncube, an Associate Professor and the Head of the Department of Social Work at the University of the Free State (UFS), has recently assumed the role of Vice President at the Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI). In an exclusive interview, Prof Ncube shared insights into the significance of his appointment, his vision for social work education in South Africa, and strategies aimed at advancing the field.

"This appointment holds considerable importance," Prof Ncube emphasised, "as it aligns perfectly with my overarching vision for our department at the UFS. It elevates the profile of our social work endeavours on both national and global scales."

Acknowledging the challenges facing social work education in South Africa, Prof Ncube outlined key objectives during his tenure. "Enhancing the membership experience, fostering stronger academia-practitioner-government connections, and addressing the struggle of graduates finding employment are among our primary goals," he said.

Prof Ncube highlighted the urgency of aligning the profession with national priorities outlined in the National Development Plan. He stressed the need for strategic sector planning in collaboration with the government to unlock the potential of social work in addressing the country's challenges.

Regarding ASASWEI's evolving role, Prof Ncube emphasised leveraging the organisation's expertise to tackle community issues at local, regional, and global levels. Prof Ncube emphasised integrating indigenous knowledge into education and addressing global developments to maximise social work's impact.

When asked about strategies for enhancing curricula and teaching methodologies, Prof Ncube reiterated the importance of collaborations and the utilisation of accumulated expertise within ASASWEI. "Our collaborative leadership team possesses the capabilities to accomplish these objectives effectively," he affirmed.

Furthermore, Prof Ncube underlined the importance of representing student voices within ASASWEI. He proposed the formation of student organisations in educational institutions, advocating for a constitutional provision for a student representative within the Executive Committee to enhance student participation and influence.

With his extensive academic background and commitment to social justice, Prof Ncube's appointment signifies a new chapter in advancing social work education in South Africa, promising collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives to drive positive change within the field.

News Archive

Q and A with Prof Hussein Solomon on ‘Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa’
2015-05-29

 

Political Science lecturer, Prof Hussein Solomon, has launched his latest book, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism in Africa: fighting insurgency from Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine and Boko Haram, on Wednesday 26 May 2015 at the UFS.

In his book, Solomon talks about the growing terrorist threat in Africa, with the likes of Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine, and Boko Haram exploiting Africa's vulnerabilities to expand their operations. Explaining both the limitations of current counter-terrorist strategies and possible future improvements, this timely study can be appreciated by scholars and practitioners alike.

Q: If you speak of Al Shabaab, Ansar Dine, and Boko Haram expanding operations, do you see possibilities for their expansion even into South Africa, or is expansion mainly focused on northern African countries?
 
A: All three movements are operating out of their respective countries. Al Shabaab has attacked Kenya and Uganda and tried to attack the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa. So yes, there is a danger that they are here and, more importantly, newer groups like ISIS are recruiting in SA already.
 
Q: If the traditional military response is ineffective, what would be a better approach then?
 
A: What is important is that the force of arms needs to complement the force of ideas. What is being waged is an ideological battle, and, just as the West defeated Communism ideologically in the Cold War, we need to defeat radical Islamism ideologically. In addition, the military response needs to complement the governance and development responses.
 
Q: External players like the US have insufficient knowledge of the context, what would be the knowledge about context necessary for anyone concerned about the terror problem in Africa?
 
A: Allow me to give you some examples. The US trains African militaries to fight terrorist groups, but, when they return to their countries, they stage a coup and topple the civilian government. The US does not seem to understand that arming a predatory military and training them makes them more predatory and brutal, which results in civilians being recruited by terrorists, as happened in Mali. Similarly, the US sent arms to the Somali government, and members of that government sold those arms to Al Shabaab terrorists, the very people they were supposed to fight. So the Americans do not understand the criminalisation of the African state, which undermines good governance and promotes terrorism.

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