The historic University of Fort Hare (UFH) officially turns 100 in February and although President Jacob Zuma wants the main festivities in May, the university will press ahead and launch its centenary celebrations next month.According to an invitation to various stakeholders, the university will kickstart centenary celebrations on February 6, just two days before February 8, the day the institution officially celebrates 100 years since it opened its doors in 1916.
A concept document seen by the Dispatch stated that the main centenary events were meant to take place over February, but have been postponed to May at Zuma’s request.
The university will over that February weekend host various events such as a memorial lecture and a walk of remembrance at its Alice main campus.
A cocktail party will be held the same weekend in East London.
The memorial walk will see university’s management, students and alumni embark on what is called the “Legends Walk”.
They will proceed to the memorial site and grave of one of the pioneers behind the idea of the formation of UFH, renowned academic Dr James Steward, who died in 1905.
Along the memorial walk, there will also be a 5km fun run to the memorial site, also known as KwaSomgxada, situated on top of a hill bordering the university’s Alice campus.
On February 7, a cocktail party will be held at East London International Convention Centre where various dignitaries, including various heads of state who were once students at the institution, are expected to attend.
The following day, the institution will host the Professor ZK Matthews memorial lecture at its sports complex in Alice.
The memorial lecture – which recognises one of its outstanding academics – will be delivered by Matthews’s former student, Inkatha Freedom Party leader and UFH alumnus Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
On the day, premier Phumulo Masualle and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande will deliver centenary support messages.
This will also be the day the year-long celebration plans will be officially unveiled, according to university spokeswoman Zintle Filtane.
Filtane yesterday said February 8 “was indeed the most important date in the calendar of the university”.
“The university’s centenary celebrations have been elevated to a national event with the presidency taking charge of a number of planning processes and funding initiatives.
“In the main the institution plans to raise at least R400-million.
“If raised, the money will cover capital projects such as the construction of a new library and the postgraduate centre, which will incorporate a hotel to service the institution and the entire Nkonkobe municipality region community,” Filtane said.
The institution has produced five heads of state: Mandela, Yusuf Lule of Uganda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Sir Seretse Khama of Botswana, and Ntsu Mokhehle of Lesotho.
Last November Zuma established an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) to plan and coordinate the centenary celebrations.
The IMC – chaired by planning, monitoring and evaluation minister in the presidency Jeff Radebe – consists of 10 other ministers from various portfolios.
Attempts for comment from Zuma’s spokesman Bongani Majola were unsuccessful at the time of writing yesterday. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Ft Hare to launch centenary early
According to an invitation to various stakeholders, the university will kickstart centenary celebrations on February 6, just two days before February 8, the day the institution officially celebrates 100 years since it opened its doors in 1916.
A concept document seen by the Dispatch stated that the main centenary events were meant to take place over February, but have been postponed to May at Zuma’s request.
The university will over that February weekend host various events such as a memorial lecture and a walk of remembrance at its Alice main campus.
A cocktail party will be held the same weekend in East London.
The memorial walk will see university’s management, students and alumni embark on what is called the “Legends Walk”.
They will proceed to the memorial site and grave of one of the pioneers behind the idea of the formation of UFH, renowned academic Dr James Steward, who died in 1905.
Along the memorial walk, there will also be a 5km fun run to the memorial site, also known as KwaSomgxada, situated on top of a hill bordering the university’s Alice campus.
On February 7, a cocktail party will be held at East London International Convention Centre where various dignitaries, including various heads of state who were once students at the institution, are expected to attend.
The following day, the institution will host the Professor ZK Matthews memorial lecture at its sports complex in Alice.
The memorial lecture – which recognises one of its outstanding academics – will be delivered by Matthews’s former student, Inkatha Freedom Party leader and UFH alumnus Dr Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
On the day, premier Phumulo Masualle and Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande will deliver centenary support messages.
This will also be the day the year-long celebration plans will be officially unveiled, according to university spokeswoman Zintle Filtane.
Filtane yesterday said February 8 “was indeed the most important date in the calendar of the university”.
“The university’s centenary celebrations have been elevated to a national event with the presidency taking charge of a number of planning processes and funding initiatives.
“In the main the institution plans to raise at least R400-million.
“If raised, the money will cover capital projects such as the construction of a new library and the postgraduate centre, which will incorporate a hotel to service the institution and the entire Nkonkobe municipality region community,” Filtane said.
The institution has produced five heads of state: Mandela, Yusuf Lule of Uganda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Sir Seretse Khama of Botswana, and Ntsu Mokhehle of Lesotho.
Last November Zuma established an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) to plan and coordinate the centenary celebrations.
The IMC – chaired by planning, monitoring and evaluation minister in the presidency Jeff Radebe – consists of 10 other ministers from various portfolios.
Attempts for comment from Zuma’s spokesman Bongani Majola were unsuccessful at the time of writing yesterday. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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