Robert Moropa’s retirement

Robert Moropa retired from the Department of Library Services (DLS), University of Pretoria, at the end of December 2019. His professional career as a librarian spanned more than four decades. He started off as regional librarian, in 1978, with the former Transvaal Provincial Administration where he worked for a short period before he took up the position of Junior Library Assistant at the University of Fort Hare at the beginning of 1979. In 1981 he moved to the University of Transkei where he was appointed to the position of University Librarian in 1990. He subsequently held senior positions at, among other institutions, the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the University of Pretoria. 

He contributed immensely to the growth and development of the Library and Information Science (LIS) profession in South Africa. He was one of the key role-players in the unification process of the LIS profession that led to the launch of LIASA in 1997.He served as President of LIASA from 2002 to 2004. He also played other professional roles of importance, amongst others as a member of the Sabinet Board of Directors, Chairperson of the Joint Bargaining Forum of the NLSA and Deputy chairperson of SANLiC. He also held leadership positions in several LIS professional organizations at international level. He served as a member of the Advisory Committee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – Access to Learning Award 2006 and 2008

He received the Alumnus of the Year Award in 2005 from the Department of Library and Information Science at Unisa - the first recipient of this award. At the 2019 LIASA conference he received the Executive Director of the Year Award in recognition of his coaching and mentoring skills and his skill in building the capacity of people working with him or under his guidance.

Robert Moropa’s farewell message

Colleagues, in the past this would have been my welcome message to you.  In my 2019 welcome message, which was my last one, I alluded to the fact that at the close of 2019 the Department of Library Services (DLS) would be appointing a new Director.  This has indeed happened.  As you know, Ms Lindiwe Soyizwapi has been appointed as the new director and head of the DLS. I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate her on being the successful applicant for this position. I wish her success.

2020 presents DLS with an opportunity for a fresh start; an opportunity for new and more possibilities.  At the same time this change of leadership will obviously cause a bit of fear – the fear of the unknown and of change among some of you.  This change will also cause excitement among other staff members.  Whatever category or group you fall in, my advice to you is to embrace it and not to let it paralyse you.  Use it for your own growth and that of the organization.

I have enjoyed my stay at UP.  I have grown and developed, in both my personal and professional capacity.  I considered it a privilege to be part of the progressive and winning DLS team.  I wish to thank all of you for your support and hard work and for allowing me to be your leader for the past 13 years.

I wish you all of the best under Lindiwe’s leadership.

May God bless you.