Dr Maghembe completed both his LLB and LLM degrees at UP. The dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof André Boraine, co-supervised his thesis, entitled A proposed discharge dispensation for consumer debtors in Tanzania, with Prof Melanie Roestoff.

“I feel such a huge amount of relief,” the new Dr Maghembe jested. “ I – and I think most of us here – was very happy since the moment I submitted my thesis. I feel so proud,” he said. He explained that he will be the third doctor in family since another of his sisters also holds a doctorate degree after studies in Uganda and the United Kingdom.

During her welcome of the graduates at the ceremony, Prof Cheryl de la Rey, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UP, said that the University currently is the academic home to about 5000 international students from a diverse range of countries. “In fact, we can proudly say that all continents are represented here at the University of Pretoria.”

According to Prof Maghembe, the reason for this is because UP has the facilities to groom young people into careers of excellence. “And I know what I’m talking about. I have been a professor for more than 25 years,” the minister said. Prof Maghembe, a professor in agriculture, is also very proud of the fact that one of his previous star students in Tanzania, Prof Paxie Chirwa, currently serves as Director for the Forest Science Postgraduate Programme at UP and holds the SAFCOL Forest Chair.