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Date : 17/06/2003
Source: The Presidency
Title: J Zuma: Unisa anniversary celebration


ADDRESS BY DEPUTY PRESIDENT JACOB ZUMA TO UNISA's 130th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, Vodaworld, Midrand, 17 June 2003

The Minister of Education, Prof Asmal,
The Chancellor of Unisa, Judge President Ngoepe,
The Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof Barney Pityana,
The Chairperson of Council, Dr Anna Mokgokong,
Deputy Chairperson of Council Dr Brigalia Bam,
and members of the Council,
Graduands and families,
The Goodwill Ambassadors of Unisa,
Members of Senate,
Representatives of all Unisa constituencies
Esteemed guests,

It is a singular honour for me to be a part of the 130-year celebrations of Unisa.

This is certainly a celebration not only for Unisa, but also for all of us given the university's contribution to our education and human resource development.

It is also truly a privilege to participate in the transformation process you have embarked upon over the past period, to reconcile this institution with some of the aspects of Unisa's past, which were unfortunate due to the system of apartheid.

The special graduation ceremonies you have planned for 14 and 21 June have special significance in this regard.

I am sure this will give further impetus to the transformation charter of Unisa and your new vision.

Let me at the onset congratulate Unisa on the steps you have taken with the adoption of a new mission, vision and strategic plan, to place this institution on a new exciting path.

The new vision and strategic plan has definitely put the university in line with the major national task of nation building.

It is also in line with the government's national plan for higher education.

Esteemed guests, Unisa has been a pioneer in open and distance learning in the last 130 years, long before the information technology revolution.

It has contributed immensely to the achievement of the human resource development goals of our country, given the numbers of graduates you have produced over the last 130 years in various fields.

This institution has provided a much-needed education to many historically disadvantaged people, during difficult times of lack of access to proper education during the apartheid period.

In this way, Unisa contradicted the then discriminatory education policy dictates of the apartheid government who sought to limit access to education for the historically disadvantaged.

In addition, due to the distance-learning format, you have, and continue to be a centre of first choice by many working adults who need to further their education. Ultimately, this is for the good of the country.

Unisa has achieved a lot in 130 years, including the imparting of skills to local communities. For example, I am told that tutors from the Unisa Music Foundation used to travel to Soshanguve to teach young people to play classical instruments.

Other achievements include:

* Having been open to all races for most of its existence;
* Having held fully integrated graduation ceremonies already from the mid-80s, and
* Setting the pace for change through your Transformation Forum, aiming to reflect race and gender equality in the staff profile Defining yourself in the context of Africa and its resurgence especially in terms of producing world class scholars.

An amazing feat of Unisa remains having provided education to people in extremely difficult circumstances, such as the prisoners on Robben Island.

We are this evening also celebrating the tenacity and resilience of those compatriots who refused to be denied access to education, even when incarcerated on the Island.

They were, through Unisa, able to achieve their objectives. This bears testimony to the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

Education on Robben Island provided a mirror into the outside world, which the warders and the apartheid system tried to keep hidden from prisoners.

Unisa students on the Island had contact with the outside world through correspondence with lecturers and the study materials, which proved to be an important source of information for many inmates, some who were not even registered students.

Another outstanding achievement is the provision of education to many in sister countries in the continent, who are now leaders in their countries in various fields, contributing to the revival of Africa.

It has been 130 years of excellence in the true sense, serving both South Africa and its sister countries on the continent.

Unisa has become an even more invaluable asset for our country, as we try to do our best to contribute to creating a better Africa and a better world.

Given Unisa's reach outside our borders through the provision of electronic and distance education in the new knowledge based economy, this institution is a key strategic partner in our quest for an African renewal.

In this regard, I am delighted with the convergence between Unisa objectives of forging partnerships in distance education with other African institutions and governments, and our African regeneration objectives. I appeal to the academics at this institution to assist us in asking the necessary critical questions about these issues related to the renewal of Africa, and making the necessary contributions to the process. The direction of the University is perhaps best depicted by the way in which it continues to lead others into the future.

I am of course referring to the Unisa Charter on Reconciliation and Transformation 2003, which is remarkable in its eloquence on the imperatives of this the African Century.

Amongst other things, it celebrates the vision, values and principles enshrined in the country's Constitution and is refreshingly Afro-centric in focus.

This is important given that Unisa is the biggest institution in Africa as well as one of the five biggest in the world.

This places Unisa in an advantageous position in the country and continent.

It also presents expectations with regard to the expected role that the university must play in the continent and the world given its size. I am also pleased that your focus goes beyond tertiary education, having noted your contribution in the area of adult literacy through the Unisa ABET Sanli Project and the establishment of your AIDS Centre.

This will greatly assist us in the fight against the scourge of HIV/AIDS through partnerships. We are encouraged that Unisa is investing in these areas.

Let me also congratulate and welcome the new goodwill ambassadors of Unisa who were introduced earlier.

We wish you all the best in your task of supporting this national asset. As we celebrate tonight, we do so with confidence that Unisa will grow from strength to strength, under the visionary and courageous leadership of Professor Pityana and his staff.

Let me reiterate that you can count on our continued support in the implementation of your noble objectives. We know Unisa will continue to groom leaders for centuries to come.

I thank you.

Issued by The Presidency
17 June 2003

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