Submitted by Bryony Green “We hope the transition will be a peaceful one, relatively peaceful, and that Mr Mugabe will step down with dignity, gracefully.” — Archbishop Desmond Tutu Desmond Tutu, in his uncompromised integrity, has continually called for peace and unity in Zimbabwe. His latest call, however, begs the questions of what exactly a […]
Mandela Rhodes Scholars
Mandela Rhodes Scholars who feature on this page are all recipients of The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, awarded by The Mandela Rhodes Foundation, and are members of The Mandela Rhodes Community.
The Mandela Rhodes Community was started by recipients of the scholarship, and is a growing network of young African leaders in different sectors. The Mandela Rhodes Community is comprised of students and professionals from various backgrounds, fields of study and areas of interest. Their commonality is the set of guiding principles instilled through The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship program: education, leadership, reconciliation, and social entrepreneurship.
All members of The Mandela Rhodes Community have displayed some form of involvement in each of these domains.
The Community has the purpose of mobilising its members and partners to collaborate in establishing a growing network of engaged and active leaders through dialogue and project support
[The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship is open to all African students and allows for postgraduate studies at any institution in South Africa. See The Mandela Rhodes Foundation for further details.]
Posted inGeneral
Meeting Mandela: The concept of legacy
Submitted by Zdena Mtetwa Many of us have attended those sessions where we are asked “What inspires you?” or “Who is your role model?” Sometimes we settle for the ones that are closer home, like “my mother”. Of course, some, if not most of us actually mean this. Our mothers are usually wonderful people, and […]
Posted inNews/Politics
I (hope one day I can) wear what I like
Submitted by Rumbi Goredema “Ain’t I a woman?” — Sojourner Truth A few weeks ago, Ncumisa Ngcukana was sexually assaulted at the Noord Street taxi rank because she was wearing a miniskirt. That’s the official version, at least. In the days that have followed, a bitter fight has raged between women (not just feminists, or […]
Posted inNews/Politics
The prize for achievement in African leadership: Juicy carrot or red herring?
Submitted by Olivier Jarda Joaquim Chissano was in the bush, mediating between a rebel group and a government in northern Uganda, when Kofi Annan announced to the world that Chissano would be the first winner of the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership. On the day of the announcement of the inaugural prize […]
Posted inGeneral
Institutionalised segregation in SA
Submitted by Boitumelo Magolego Being called African and/or South African, in my estimation, is a politically correct euphemism or synonym for calling one black (black referring to a non-homogenous people originally called the Bantu). An euphemism, because depending on one’s so-called race, calling a person black may be construed as being pejorative. A synonym, because […]
Posted inLifestyle
Taxi life: What a ‘joy’-ride!
Submitted by Judy Sikuza Many constituents have labelled the Gautrain as “a train for the rich” and feel that the project is a waste of funds that could go to alternative transportation projects. I am sure numerous taxi drivers would agree with the latter component. After all, who needs a fast, high-tech transport system like […]
Posted inMedia
Superficially South African
Submitted by Matthew Beetar I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Provinces of South Africa, and to the Republic for which it stands … Then again, maybe not. I have run into a fair amount of criticism for not being completely patriotic and enthusiastic about the construction of a compulsory South African identity. […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Turning the tables on terrorism
Submitted by Janet Jobson The 9/11 terrorist attacks were a defining point for our generation, one of those “where were you when …” moments that will be discussed around dinner tables for decades to come. Looking back over the global shifts that have occurred in response to 9/11 and subsequent attacks, I feel we might […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Can’t we all just get along?
Submitted by Suntosh Pillay What a day they had to choose! It’s ironic that the ANC’s Polokwane conference began on the Day of Reconciliation, December 16. But first, here’s two stories about four men. Zackie Achmat, leader of the Treatment Action Campaign, recently married Dallie Weyers, “an Afrikaans boy from the Free State”. They’re both […]
Posted inGeneral
Welcome to our conversation…
Welcome to our conversation. Strange as it may seem (considering this is our first contribution to Thought Leader) you are joining us in the middle of numerous, intriguing debates of which we hope you will soon become part. But first let me introduce “us”. We are the Community of Mandela Rhodes Scholars. We are an […]