Africa-Press – South-Africa. The four will join more than 2 000 students who will graduate during three ceremonies from Wednesday to Friday.
More than 40% of the 2022 graduands are postgraduates. Sixty-four percent are woman and 13 percent are international students.
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On Wednesday, the university will confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on The Right Honourable Lord Peter Hain of Neath.
Hain’s honorary award will be presided over by the vice-chancellor of Robert Gordon University in Scotland, Professor Steve Olivier, a Rhodes University alumnus.
He was born and raised in South Africa and committed many years to the fight against apartheid.
He was educated in South Africa at Hatfield Primary School and Pretoria Boys High School until he fled the country at the age of 16 after both his parents were jailed for their activism work.
When forced into exile in 1966, the family relocated to London, England where Hain completed his schooling.
He was involved in the State Capture Inquiry when he testified before then Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo.
Hain has used his position as a political leader in the UK to call for a ban on global institutions and companies that facilitated state capture in South Africa.
He is an author of more than 20 books, articles and publications.
Rhodes University vice-chancellor, Professor Sizwe Mabizela, said: “Our nation will remain eternally indebted to you for all your sacrifices in fighting against apartheid and for being a global voice of the voiceless majority in South Africa.”
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“I am delighted that the Rhodes University community has seen it fit to honour your sustained and significant contributions by the award of an honorary doctorate and warmly congratulate you on this richly deserved recognition and notable achievement,” Mabizela added.
At the same ceremony, the university will also confer a degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) (honoris causa) on Xaba, who was born in Greytown, KwaZulu-Natal.
Xaba is a renowned poet, award-winning anthropologist and short storyteller.
Mabizela said the nation owes Xaba an enormous debt of gratitude and appreciation for all the sacrifices she has made throughout her life by serving the poor and downtrodden.
Mabizela lauded Xaba for restoring the nation’s faith in the goodness of humanity.
Then, on Friday, the university will confer a degree of Doctor of Science (DSc) (honoris causa) on epidemiologist Professor Abdool Karim, who is known for her research on preventing HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women.
She is the wife of well-known epidemiologist and infectious diseases specialist, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, who has been on the front line of South Africa’s defence against Covid-19.
Quarraisha Abdool Karim, co-founder of the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa, demonstrated for the first time that antiretrovirals could prevent HIV infection. These findings were highlighted by the journal Science as one of the top 10 scientific breakthroughs in 2010.
She is a professor in clinical epidemiology at Columbia University and pro vice-chancellor of African Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Abdool Karim is hailed for playing a central role in building the science base in southern Africa through the Columbia University-Southern African Fogarty AIDS International Training and Research Programme, which has trained over 600 scientists in southern Africa.
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She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine (USA) and a fellow of The World Academy of Science, Royal Society of South Africa, Academy of Science of South Africa and the African Academy of Science.
Mabizela said the nation was singularly privileged and distinctly honoured to have a scientist of Abdool Karim’s calibre and stature.
Mabizela said:
During the same graduation, the university will confer a degree of Doctor of Literature (DLitt) (honoris causa) on Mabuza posthumously.
She was a South African politician, diplomat, poet, academic, journalist, and cultural activist.
Mabuza served as South African Ambassador to Germany, Malaysia, the Philippines and the United Kingdom.
She received numerous awards, including an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Durban-Westville in 1993, the University of Edinburgh in Scotland in 2003 and the Yari Yari Award for contributions to Human Rights and Literature from the New York University in 1997.
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In 2003, while serving as South African High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, she was named by Diplomat Magazine as Diplomat of the Year.
She died of cancer on 6 December 2021 at the age of 83.
She served South Africa as a member of the first democratically elected Parliament of South Africa.
She then proceeded to a career as a distinguished diplomat.
Mabuza’s daughter, Chairperson of Road Accident Fund board Thembi Msibi, will receive the honour on her behalf.
Mabizela said: “Our nation owes her an enormous debt of gratitude and appreciation for all the sacrifices she has made throughout her life as a committed freedom fighter, a determined cultural and literary activist and a champion for women’s emancipation.”
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