Dear Staff and Students

The College of Humanities cordially invites you to the annual John Langalibalele Dube Memorial Lecture with the theme:  What went wrong with the Nation-Building or Rainbow Nation Project? Race and Race Relations in post-apartheid South Africa.

Date: 11 September 2025

Venue: Colin Webb Hall, PMB Campus, UKZN

Time: 17h30 onwards

RSVP HERE to attend or watch the Livestream HERE.

Keynote Speaker: Professor Hlonipha Mokoena (University of the Witwatersrand)

Overview: The allegation of the existence of persecution and genocide of and against white people, specifically Afrikaners, in South Africa and the subsequent actions by the US government to grant Afrikaners refugee status have raised critical questions about racial unity and harmony in South Africa. After the 1994 elections, President Mandela championed the nation-building project. Archbishop Tutu even coined the term, Rainbow Nation, to acknowledge racial, ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity. The project was meant to bring all South Africans together as one nation after years of colonialism and Apartheid divisions, governed by progressive constitutional values. The concept of “unity in diversity” was often invoked as an acknowledgement of diversity and hope for harmonious co-existence. The new government created institutions to uphold human, linguistic, and cultural rights. Since the advent of democracy, crime, especially murder, has been a serious problem in the country. Successive administrations have not been able to deal with it effectively.

Over the years, elements within the Afrikaner community started to present themselves as a persecuted minority. While South Africa continues to sail in its volatile socio-political waters, Dube’s contributions as a unifier offer sustainable lessons on the importance of racial unity. Dube had a transformative vision and leadership that aimed at unifying diverse South African communities in a complex socio-political landscape at the beginning of the 20th century. He defended inclusiveness and unity in a racially fractured society. His vision extended beyond simple coexistence; he aspired to build a shared identity that transcended racial boundaries. The 2025 JL Dube Memorial Lecture interrogates JL Dube’s contribution with the Afrikaner “refugees” narrative as a backdrop.

Enquiries: sibran@ukzn.ac.za

We look forward to your presence.

Issued by College of Humanities