On Thursday, 6 February 2020, Vice-Chancellor Prof Tawana Kupe and the University of Pretoria welcomed Federal Chancellor Dr Angela Merkel to our new interdisciplinary campus, Future Africa. This was the first time the Federal Chancellor was able to meet with South African students to discuss current affairs and opportunities. Dr Merkel addressed a large and diverse panel of students from all the University’s faculties and was able to field questions on a variety of topics, including South Africa’s energy crisis, transdisciplinary research and the rise of inequality. 

Dr Merkel was particularly keen to discuss the role of Germany in South Africa’s future. The Chancellor highlighted the economic ties binding the two countries and their important bilateral cooperation in terms of education and climate protection. Similarly, Dr Merkel was asked about the positive role that Germany could play in helping South Africa’s transition towards green energy. She noted South Africa’s heavy reliance on coal – 80% of South Africa’s energy is generated by coal power plants – and stressed that Eskom’s transition will be a “herculean challenge”. Nonetheless, she believes that a gradual move towards renewable energy is possible if it is supplemented with the temporary use of green hydrogen. Likewise, Dr Merkel highlighted the need to use energy more efficiently, and to offer incentives and encouragements for consumers to be more responsible in their daily energy consumption. Germany, she explained, is transitioning to a greener future by first changing consumer behaviour by gradually increasing carbon emission prices and  incentivising companies to reduce their energy consumption and their overall carbon footprint. The Chancellor also warned that a phasing out coal-based power plants might hurt workers currently employed in this industry and suggested that the government and industry work to trained those effected to assume jobs in other, better paying sectors.

When asked to address the issue of rising inequality and poverty in South Africa, the Chancellor stressed the need for the nation to create a solid business body to generate wealth. She acknowledged that the government’s capacity to create employment was more limited than that of the private sector. And although creating a performance tax system is the second necessary step to redistributing wealth, this could only be done with a large pool of taxpayers. Dr Merkel, however, also underlined the need to promote and nurture entrepreneurship in South Africa without overtaxing small and medium enterprises. 

While the fourth industrial revolution offers plenty of opportunities for entrepreneurship, it also facilitates tax evasion which is why Dr Merkel advocated for a global tax system to avoid fraud and reduce tax heavens. She also stressed the importance of using technology to reducing corruption and increase transparency and oversight by allowing online platforms to display, for instance, government spending in certain sectors. 

Students also asked about her views on education and its impact on economic development. She acknowledged that South Africa’s high population growth is putting pressure on the country’s educational infrastructure, particularly its tertiary facilities. Dr Merkel highlighted the importance of transdisciplinary research in the modern world and argued that education systems have to be adapted to technology and innovation – and even challenged her audience to drive this! – adding that vocational training is a valuable step towards creating jobs in sectors that would otherwise not be considered. 

The audience also quizzed her about gender inequality, which she believes has made progress. For her, while women have to stand up for themselves and increase their confidence in the workplace, their efforts would be meaningless without both sexes learning about their shared equal rights. Dr, Merkel noted that an equal and fair society where all rights are respected, valued and upheld, requires everyone regardless of their gender to work together.   

Students studying political sciences asked Dr Merkel how Germany would address the resurging tensions between Greece and Turkey given that these tensions could escalate animosity in the rest of Europe. Dr Merkel stated that while Germany supports Greece, and have applied relevant sanctions, Germany supports the need to create a functional platform of dialogue between the nations. And when challenged on Germany’ position on the territorial dispute between Israel and Palestine she reiterated Germany’s commitment to ethical leadership and support for a two-state system – one which respects the sovereignty and identity of both Israel and Palestine.  Dr Merkel mentioned Germany’s difficult history with the Jewish nation and its necessary support for the state of Israel as a sanctuary for all the people of Jewish descent. However, Germany's support of Israel, while rooted in its history, should not be done at the expense of Palestinian people.

For more coverage of Dr Merkel’s visit to the University of Pretoria please click here.