This year marks the 41st anniversary of Black Wednesday. To commemorate this day, the National Press Club, in partnership with the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the Qoboza family will host the 8th Annual Percy Qoboza Memorial Lecture.
 
The memorial lecture is held annually in commemoration of the 19th October 1977, when the then apartheid government banned The World, Weekend world and other publications. The day was later referred as the “Black Wednesday”.
 
The lecture will be delivered by Fr Smangaliso Mkhatshwa and followed by a panel discussion with Jos Charle (Chairperson of the National Press Club), Mpumelelo Mkhabela (Political Analyst – Department of Political Science, Unisa) and Malesela Maubane (Chairperson and President of Public Relation Institute of Southern Africa)
 
Percy Qoboza was a social activist and editor of The World, and later of the City Press newspaper. In honour of his passion for social justice and media freedom in our country; and with the upcoming 2019 general elections in mind, this year’s theme is: Politics and media freedom – Responsibility and Accountability to the South African Public.
 
“The university together with its stakeholder remembers the role of the courageous journalists, newspapers, anti-apartheid organisations and activists targeted by the apartheid regime in 1977. We honour and salute these activists who sacrificed their freedom in their quest to inform the public about the realities of our country; and in the struggle for democracy”, said Professor Mandla Makhanya – Principal and Vice Chancellor of Unisa.
 
The lecture is to take place as follows:
 
Date    : Friday 19, October 2018
Venue: Senate Hall, 2nd level, Theo Van Wijk Building - UNISA Pretoria Campus
Time    : 09h00 – 11h00
 
Members of the Media are invited to attend.
 
 
For RSVP and Interview request, please contact: Mr. Tommy Huma (Unisa: Senior Media Liaison Officer) 072 218 6197 / 012 429 3981 / humatm@unisa.,ac.za           
 
ISSUED BY UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA - MEDIA AFFAIRS