The North-West University (NWU), in conjunction with The Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation (DACSR) and the Ruth Mompati Foundation, hosted a memorial lecture to celebrate and honour the legacy of the late struggle stalwart Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati.
The event took place on 10 March 2020 at the NWU’s campus in Mahikeng.
Dr Ralph Manyane from the subject group History was the keynote speaker, and the theme of his lecture was “Reflecting about Mama Ruta’s legacy: Have we lived up to her dream?”
According to Dr Manyane Dr Mompati – or Mama Ruta as she was affectionately known – has run her race, and the pertinent question is how far we in the present have followed in her footsteps, heading for a better future.
“Mama Ruta’s agenda also extended its range to include those outside the political elite,” said Dr Manyane.
“She was held in high regard by the people she served and lived with. It was in the light of services she rendered to South Africans that the former Unibo (today the NWU) awarded her an honorary master’s degree in education in 1996, and the Medical University of South Africa (today called Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University) honoured her with an honorary doctorate degree,” he added.
“Small wonder she was named Segomotsi which means comforter, or that many people referred to her as Mama Ruta!
“We know of many tangible and intangible heritages that stand as the lasting reminder of her skills and achievements. Indeed, such monuments, including memorial lectures and biographies, are a measure of how far South Africans have gone to live her dream.”
DACSR MEC Virginia Tlhapi said it is an honour for the department to be given the opportunity to celebrate the life of this struggle giant.
“Dr Mompati was a champion of human rights. In her we had a true leader who was firm and dedicated to the ANC,” said MEC Tlhapi.
“We are doing this so that her name is eternally etched in the memories of our youth and future generations. They need to know that we owe our hard-earned freedom to people like Ruth Mompati. We thank the NWU and the foundation for taking hands with us to make the event a success.’’
Dr Aaron Tshidzumba, deputy dean for community engagement and stakeholder relations in the Faculty of Humanities, said the university encourages meaningful relations with communities to stimulate the production of new forms of knowledge and intellectual debates.
Mr Elvis Tladinyane from the Dr Ruth Mompati Foundation said they welcome the initiative. “Legends such as Dr Mompati need to be celebrated by society for the role they played in attaining the dream of a free society. Her legacy should be respected.’’
More about Dr Ruth Mompati
Mama Ruth was a humble, disciplined and dedicated champion of the people. She was born in Ganyesa Village in the Vryburg district on 14 September 1925.
She was one of the central figures in organising the historic Anti Pass Law march of 9 August 1956 when more than 20 000 women of all races marched to Pretoria.
Between 1953 and 1961 she worked as a typist for a law firm run by Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela. She joined the African National Congress in 1954.
Dr Mompati passed away on 12 May 2015 at the age of 89.
Dr Ralph Manyane from the NWU’s subject group History delivers the public lecture “Reflecting about Mama Ruta’s legacy: Have we lived up to her dream?”.
Click here to read Dr Manyane’s presentation.
Click here to read DACSR MEC Virginia Tlhapi’s presentation.
Here are members of Dr Ruth Mompati’s family with DACSR MEC Virginia Tlhapi, various NWU academics and representatives from the Ruth Mompati Foundation.
