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We would like to bid a heroic farewell to Judge Bernard Ngoepe who have demonstrated an excellent leadership for 15 years as the head of University of South Africa (UNISA)

He have fostered UNISA to be a barometer of African thought as Robert Sobukwe aspired during his presidency of Student Representative Council at Fort Hare University, he wished that Fort Hare be a barometer of African thought like what Stellenbosch is to Afrikaner.

It was under the leadership of Ngoepe that Mr Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe was celebrated and honoured each month, each year. It was under Judge Ngoepe that Sobukwe was furnished with an Honorary degree in Law in 2015 conferred by Professor Mondli Makhanya, the Vice-Chancellor.

It would be immature to say that we are happy Thabo Mbeki is the newly appointed chancellor but it is only fair to give him the benefit of doubt. Our expectation from anyone appointed  to be capacitated to address current dilemmas faced by our students in the institution of higher learning and training.

We hope that Mr Thabo Mbeki will be instrumental in realising free, socialist and obligatory education for both rich and poor without an attempt to divide students because they are all citizens of this country and we believe in the creation of egalitarian order.

Thabo Mbeki as the commander-in-chief of Pretoria failed to repossess the land from those who seized it illegally back to its original owners, the African descendants. He also failed to release PAC cadres who are still languishing in jails for devoting their lives to fighting the racist Apartheid regime.

Mbeki may be praised as an intellectual but that have not translated into prosperity of his country. He was just there like Jacob Zuma enjoying the fat salary and gross benefits.

It is fair that he be given opportunity for the last time to do good for his country, at least something he will leave as his legacy because at the moment we only remember the atrocities such as the AIDS scandal, xenophobic attacks and poor policy execution.

Issued by PAC