DUT Head Speaks at UKZN Freedom Month Celebration

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The Vice-Chancellor of the Durban University of Technology (DUT), Professor Ahmed Bawa, delivered a public lecture on freedom and democracy at UKZN in celebration of Freedom Month.

The lecture was hosted by the School of Social Sciences in conjunction with the Department of Arts and Culture at the Howard College Theatre.

This year, Freedom Month reflects on how South Africa achieved its freedom and democracy; the 20 years of the Constitution and the progress made in the past 22 years as well as how South Africans should work together to implement the National Development Plan (NDP).

Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa said, ‘We urge everyone to celebrate Freedom Month as an opportunity to strengthen solidarity, tolerance, national identity and social cohesion in our country.’

Dean and Head of the School of Social Sciences, Professor Stephen Mutula, further acknowledged the contribution institutions of higher learning have made in forging the consciousness of political activists and generations of students as well as in shaping public debates and discourses that have influenced the course of South African history.

‘Through research, teaching and community outreach, our academic staff and students make contributions to the development and transformation of the nation in fulfilment of the vision of those who fought for freedom,’ said Mutula.

In his lecture, Bawa noted that some very substantial advances had been made in the 20 years since the first democratic elections in South Africa, driven partly by the rich texture of the reconciliation imperatives of the Mandela presidency and partly on the wings of the euphoria of the unfolding of the nascent democracy.

‘While there has been modest economic growth and the delivery of services to larger and larger sections of the population, the widening of the wealth gap between rich and poor gallops along at a furious pace. This has resulted in increasing tensions between communities and the state as demonstrated in the ongoing service delivery actions which have often turned violent. Deep disquiet over crime and corruption is prevalent all over,’ he said.

Bawa posed an open question to the audience: ‘Where are we heading? And can we recreate the dynamism, truth and selflessness that so characterised our struggle for freedom and democracy as a basis on which to build a democratic, egalitarian South Africa?’

He believes that South Africa’s young democracy needs to be deepened and strengthened to intensify civic participation in decision making, and to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations.

‘Our diversity should overcome our challenges with regards to the tension that separates us. Also nation building in universities is lost due to mobilisation and is more focused on globalisation which side-lines unity. If we break rules that exist in the community and enforce Ubuntu, cohesion will be able to take place,’ said Bawa.

Melissa Mungroo