The North-West University (NWU), the North-West Provincial Government (NWPG) and the Moses Mauane Kotane Foundation co-hosted the inaugural annual Moses Kotane lecture on 18 November.

This year’s event with the theme: Resetting South Africa’s journey towards recovery and rebuilding, saw expert speakers, highly respected dignitaries* (including the premier of North West) and members of the community converge on the Potchefstroom Campus.

The important event paid homage to the legacy of the late Moses Kotane, secretary general of the South African Communist Party from 1939 until his death in 1978.

“This marks a historic moment as we are jointly celebrating the contribution to our constitutional democracy by one of the struggle stalwarts from our province,” said Prof Bismark Tyobeka, principal and vice-chancellor of the NWU, during his address.

He said Moses Kotane has contributed enormously to the liberation of South Africa and the African continent. “A man who was known to be incorruptible in all facets of his life and who demonstrated exemplary leadership by leading from the front. The calibre of leader who dedicated his life to freedom and democracy and advocated strong moral principles.”

Prof Tyobeka said the key questions that need to be asked while remembering and celebrating the life of Moses Kotane include what we are doing to sustain his legacy and his dream of a free South Africa; how Moses Kotane would react to our work – generally and in addressing the plight of the poor; and what we are going to do differently to do introspection and self-correct.

Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape said Moses Kotane understood the importance of education in the pursuit of liberation and enrolled in the communist-run night school in Ferreirastown, where he became known for his ability to master the most complex political writings. “He immersed himself in various pieces of literature, which moulded him as a voracious reader who used his spare time to read as many books as possible.”

The premier said that Moses Kotane was one of the early pioneers of a non-sexist, non-racial, prosperous, democratic state. “He was a proponent of good governance and ethical leadership.”

Prof Somadoda Fikeni, chairperson of the Public Service Commission, presented the lecture and argued that, to bring to life the spirit of Moses Kotane, a journey of change should be undertaken. “That journey of change will not come from a leader or instruction book somewhere. It will start with you. Moral lapses come when you say I am waiting for regulations. Ethics are about you taking a stand on what is wrong or right. The biggest challenge to our country today is that those who want to see recovery, renewal and rebuilding are so fragmented, so tentative in their thinking, so disorganised, so mild, so meek, whereas those who are invested in the status quo no matter how bad it might be are so intense, so vocal, so focused, so well-organised that you start thinking the latter group is speaking in the voices of minions.”

“It is for this reason that Madiba said in 1997 that perhaps this country needs an RDP of the soul, because he realised that the RDP of housing, infrastructure and electricity would be hollow, non-sustainable and meaningless if it is not complemented by a new consciousness.”

Afterwards, Prof Kedibone Phago, director of the NWU School of Government Studies, Solly Mapaila, general secretary of the South African Communist Party, and Prof Dirk Kotzé joined the speakers and dignitaries in a panel discussion and a question-and-answer session facilitated by Clement Manoko, the NWU’s executive director for Corporate Relations and Marketing.

*Dignitaries who partook in the formalities also included Ambassador Joseph Kotane, chairperson of the Moses Kotane Foundation, Kgosi Godfrey Gasebone wa Bakwena ba Morare, Motlalepula Rosho, NWPG MEC for Finance, and cllr Stella Mondlana, speaker of the Matlosana Local Municipality.

Prof Bismark Tyobeka, Premier Kaoitsa Bushy Maape and Ambassador Joseph Kotane, chairperson of the Moses Kotane Foundation and Moses Kotane’s son.