VC’s Open Lecture: Professor Thuli Madonsela

Dear colleagues and students

I am extremely pleased to invite you to the 2019 Vice-Chancellor’s Open Lecture, which will be presented by Professor Thuli Madonsela, Law Faculty Trust Chair for Social Justice and law professor at Stellenbosch University. Her lecture is titled “Education and the complex shadow of our unjust past”.

Professor Madonsela has been a lifelong activist on social justice, constitutionalism, human rights, good governance and the rule of law, and is one of the drafters of South Africa’s Constitution. In 2014 she was named among Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world and was the Forbes Africa Person of the Year in 2016.

An advocate of the High Court of South Africa, Professor Madonsela recently completed a seven-year term as South Africa’s Public Protector – an oversight body mandated to support and strengthen constitutional democracy, and empowered to investigate, report on and remedy improper conduct in all state affairs. Prior to this she served in various leadership capacities in civil society and government.

Professor Madonsela is revered globally for her integrity and fearlessness in enforcing accountability and justice in the exercise of public power and use of public resources. Her work has received national and global recognition, including several lifetime achievement awards.

She has five honorary Doctor of Law degrees – from the University of Cape Town (UCT), the University of the Witwatersrand, Stellenbosch University, the University of Fort Hare and Rhodes University – with a further two approved honorary doctorates awaiting a date for conferment.

Her numerous accolades include the Law Society of South Africa’s Truth and Justice Award, the General Council of the Bar of South Africa’s Sydney and Felicia Kentridge Award, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association’s Truth and Justice Award, Transparency International’s Integrity Award, the German Africa Prize and an African Anti-Corruption Crusader Award.

The lecture, which is open to all within and outside the UCT community, will provide an opportunity to hear from one of our greatest legal minds. Please join me in what is sure to be an inspiring session.

When: Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Where: Sarah Baartman Hall, University Avenue South, Upper Campus, University of Cape Town

Time: 18:30 (Doors open at 18:00, guests to be seated by 18:15)

RSVP: Please confirm your attendance online by Sunday, 18 August 2019.

Please note: Due to limited space, seats will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sincerely

Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng
Vice-Chancellor

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