Date: 22/03/2007

Source: Department of Education

Title: Surty: Inauguration of Professor W Nkuhlu

Speech by Mr Enver Surty, MP, the Deputy Minister of Education at the inauguration of Professor Wiseman L Nkuhlu as the Chancellor of the University of Pretoria

Programme director, Professor Andy Mogotlane
Chancellor elect of the University of Pretoria, Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu
Chairperson of Council, Prof Esme du Plessis and other Council members
Vice Chancellor, Professor Calie Pistorius
Minister in the Presidency, Dr Essop Pahad
Vice Chancellors of our Universities and Universities of Technology
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Judge Eloff and other members of our Judiciary
Academics, staff and students of the University
Distinguished guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

Good evening, Goeienaand, Dumelang, Molweni

I am honoured to be given the opportunity to extend our warmest congratulations to a true son of the soil, Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu as the Chancellor of the University of Pretoria.

Like many of our illustrious leaders, Wiseman Lumkile Nkuhlu is a true pioneer and a role model to all of us, especially our youth. He has become a living testimony of what people can achieve if given the opportunity. During the dark days of the struggle when career opportunities for Africans were limited, Prof Nkuhlu became the first African Chartered Accountant (1976), a profession that was unheard of, among Africans in those days.

Prof Nkuhlu is no stranger to the education environment, specifically higher education. He dedicated more than two decades of his life working towards the transformation of the higher education system, first as a lecturer then later as a principal and vice chancellor of the University of Transkei.

His hard work and dedication in the field did not go unnoticed; he was appointed the first Chairperson of the Council on Higher Education. It is in this position that he was instrumental in re-shaping higher education policy, including restructuring its institutional landscape.

It is not an understatement to say that Wiseman Nkuhlu has also been pivotal in shaping our business and development agenda, as former economic adviser to President Thabo Mbeki and previous chairman of the steering committee of the New Partnership for Africa's Development. He is highly regarded in the area of socio-economic development in SA and on the continent.

It is for these reasons that we believe that the University of Pretoria could not have found or chosen a better leader. Prof Nkuhlu will bring a wealth of experience and networks that can only benefit this institution.

I would like to close by quoting President Mbeki when he reminds us about the value and concept of Ubuntu.

"Existing alongside, and contrary to the values and norms we inherit from the apartheid past, are values and norms that have also resided amongst our people, and, which have held together communities from ancient times up to the present. These values contained in the world view known as Ubuntu, succinctly expressed in the phrase Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu emphasise society, community and family as critical elements of personal development security and fulfilment."

Ubuntu bevestig die gesegde dat geen persoon 'n eiland is nie, maar dat elkeen 'n belangrike gedeelte vorm van die groter samelewing. Om hierdie rede lei ons individuele suksesse na die sukses van almal om ons.

Hierdie woorde is 'n verpersoonliking van Wiseman Nkuhlu.

Namens die Ministerie van Onderwys en die Suid-Afrikaanse regering, wens ek Professor Nkuhlu alle sukses toe met sy toekomstige aktiwiteite. Ons vertrou dat met sy wyse leiding die universiteit sal aanhou met die uitstekende bydrae tot die ontwikkeling, vooruitgang en rekonstruksie van ons nasie.

Dankie, Thank you, Ke a leboga

Issued by: Department of Education
22 March 2007