University of Pretoria (UP) Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Tawana Kupe recently hosted former Deputy Chief Justice Dr Dikgang Moseneke at UP. Dr Moseneke, who was awarded an honorary doctorate at a graduation ceremony at UP’s Centre for Human Rights in 2018, had the opportunity to tour UP’s latest establishments and projects such as the Javett-UP Art Centre, the Future Africa institute and campus, and the Engineering 4.0 complex.  

“Praise to UP with regards to its achievements, and praise to the leader of this institution; it is properly due. UP is blessed to have an amazing leader like Prof Kupe who works tirelessly to keep the institution moving. It is exciting to see that UP, even before Prof Kupe’s era, had already embraced the notions of transformation, integration and diversity faster and quicker than other universities. It was a privilege and an honour to visit UP, especially the Javett-UP Art Centre with the Mapungubwe Collection.”

UP student Thando Mthimkulu shows former Deputy Chief Justice Dr Dikgang Moseneke the Mapungubwe Collection which includes the golden rhinoceros of Mapungubwe.

Dr Moseneke retired in May 2016 after serving for more than 10 years as the Deputy Chief Justice of South Africa. He was a Justice of the Constitutional Court of South Africa from 2002 and, before that, a judge of the High Court in Pretoria.

Prof Kupe described Dr Moseneke as a man with a depth of experience that reflects not only the struggles of  South Africa, where he was imprisoned on Robben Island for 10 years after being convicted of participating in anti-apartheid activity, but those of the continent as well.

“During his imprisonment he acquired qualifications under the most difficult conditions and went on to serve the nation in multiple roles.

“Here we have an eminent citizen of the continent who embodies its struggles, wishes, visions. We truly appreciate his presence today,” said Prof Kupe.

Lekgetho Makola, CEO of Javett-UP Art Centre, said Dr Moseneke’s visit was an important gesture in that the arts are a naturally political space, one with highly contested views about society, societal norms, conflict and how people should exist.

“For Dr Moseneke to visit UP to see and engage with our space validates the value that the arts provide in interpreting societies, in presenting different perspectives on how we live and engage as a society,” said Makola.