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14 May 2005

Education and Commerce

The Rector and Vice Chancellor, Professor Rachel Gumbi,
Minister of Education, Dr Naledi Pandor,
Chairperson of Council, Mrs HB Mkhize,
SRC President and SRC leadership,
Dean of the Faculties of Education and Commerce,
Graduates and Parents,
Academic Staff,
Friends of the University of Zululand,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a pleasure as always for me to be part of this joyous occasion, as our graduates and academic staff reap the fruits of their labour.

It is a joyous occasion indeed given the fact that we know that some of our new graduates had to overcome many obstacles to reach this point.

You all persevered because of the long history and tradition of placing a high premium on education among our communities, even during the darkest days of apartheid when opportunities were scarce and when education was a privilege, not a right.

No matter how poor, parents always strove to send their children to school, as education was viewed as the only instrument that could extricate our people from poverty.

At a national policy level, we value education also because it is a powerful tool in our goals of transforming and rebuilding our country, and ensuring the kind of economic growth that will create jobs and assist us in the eradication of poverty and hunger. It is an instrument that will enable us to participate fully in the global arena, and be active participants in bilateral and multilateral engagements with the world.

We are today celebrating with graduates in the faculties of education and commerce. We invite you to take up the challenge of contributing to the national task of growing the country's economy so that we can respond decisively to the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment.

Our education graduates should be mindful of the need for skills development in our country. We urge you to make your contribution in the development of the scarce technical and academic skills that our public and private sectors desperately need.

In this era of globalisation where information is power, and where communications technologies rule the world, we rely on you to contribute to the culture of skills development and continuous learning in our places of work.

The Commerce graduates have many opportunities ahead of them, as the transformation of the economy continues in earnest, to ensure that all South Africans participate fully, especially the historically marginalised. As we seek to bridge the gap between the first and second economies, and intensify efforts of growing the first economy, your skills will be most advantageous.

We are also fully aware of the challenges of unemployment, and continue to work with labour and business to find ways of creating as well as protecting jobs. Therefore, we urge some of you to look at entrepreneurship as a possibility, and to be creators of jobs instead of job seekers. There are many opportunities in our country for young adventurous minds.

Distinguished guests, let me reiterate the importance of education. We have treasured education for centuries. By the time of the last war of resistance in 1906, spearheaded by Chief Bambatha ka Mancinza, the African communities had already developed a class of educated people.

Among this generation of an African educated class that was emerging, we can mention Tiyo Soga, Walter Rubusana, John Tengo Jabavu, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, John Langalibalele Dube, Alfred Mangena, GD Montsioa, RW Msimang, the AC Jordaan, Sol Plaatje and many others who all used their educational qualifications to fight for the liberation of their people.

Most of them were to play an important role in spearheading the liberation struggle of our country, using their various professions.

After the formation of Union of South Africa, which excluded black South Africans, a group of intellectuals educated in missionary schools and abroad decided to form their own parliament of the people, hence the formation of the African National Congress on 8 January 1912.

Illustrious scholars of note were to lead the struggle at different periods, from John Langalibalele Dube to Pixley ka Isaka Seme, Josiah Gumede to Albert Luthuli, from Oliver Tambo to Nelson Mandela. None of them ever undermined the role of education in the struggle to emancipate the African people. And they practised what they preached.

Oliver Tambo was one of the best mathematics and science students in his school days. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and later an Education diploma and taught for a few years.

He later changed careers and obtained a Law degree.

He was instrumental in the opening of the Solomon Mahlangu Freedom College (SOMAFCO) in Tanzania to ensure that young people who went into exile received proper education. This played an important role in arming young exiles with skills that they are now using as we work to transform as well as reconstruct and develop our country.

The message to our graduates is that you should learn from this heritage and follow in the footsteps of these luminaries and use your education for the betterment of society.

We are all very proud of you indeed.

Having said that let me also remind you that you need to be prepared for the challenges of life beyond the walls of this campus. Young people are growing up in an environment of social hardships that may take you away from your chosen path of working for the development of your career and your families.

You would be aware of the Moral Regeneration Movement, which seeks to promote a positive social environment in which there is respect for the traditional values of ubuntu, respect for the next person as well as respect for human life and human rights of others in general. We want to create a caring society where there is no domestic violence, no drug or alcohol abuse and where we all work together to build a prosperous country.

I urge you to keep this in mind as you enter the world of work. In whatever career field or social grouping you find yourself in, remember to promote the values enshrined in our Constitution, especially in our Bill of Rights.

Another crucial reminder is the challenge of fighting against the scourge of HIV and AIDS. Tomorrow, 15 May, is Candlelight Memorial Day and the main event will be marked in Rustenburg in the North West province. We will be remembering all South Africans who are infected and affected by the virus.

We will be recommitting ourselves to continuing to work to alleviate the suffering, to support those who are infected and affected, and to play our role to combat the spread of the disease. I urge you to mark this day tomorrow wherever you will be, by recommitting yourself to this battle.

We need to remember that the actions of each individual counts. This is a titanic battle that needs the contribution of every South African.

Most importantly, let us accept that we are all living with HIV and it affects us all in one way or another.

My message to young people is: Let us not allow this disease to rob us of our youth and to reverse the gains of our democracy. Let us act wisely, and change our behaviour in line with these difficult times.

Once again, congratulations to all our new graduates. You have worked very hard, you deserve this victory. Congratulations to the parents and academic staff as well for your support and encouragement.

May this University grow from strength to strength, and continue producing future experts and organic intellectuals for this province and indeed the whole country.

I thank you.

Issued by: The Presidency
14 May 2005
Source: SAPA