Soudien chairs committee on transformation and discrimination

Ministerial brief: Prof Crain Soudien will chair Naledi Pandor's committee on transformation and discrimination in public higher education.

Professor Crain Soudien (School of Education) will chair Minister of Education Naledi Pandor's Ministerial Committee to examine progress towards transformation and social cohesion and the elimination of discrimination in public higher education institutions.

The committee has a six-month brief during which it is required to produce a report on the state of transformation in higher education. In looking at discrimination, it must pay particular attention to racism.

"While the inquiry was prompted by the [recent Reitz residence] events at the University of the Free State, it is not focused on the University of the Free State per se," Soudien said.

"My role on the committee is to effectively manage the process of the inquiry and to deliver a report to the Minister of Education. Practically, this means conceptualising and implementing the inquiry."

Other committee members include Dr Olive Shisana, Professor Sipho Seepe, Gugu Nyanda, Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele, Dr Charles Villa-Vicencio, Professor Mokubung Nkomo, Mohau Pheko, Nkateko Nyoka and Dr Wynoma Michaels.