Mawande Jack
Struggle heroes like Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Fort Calata and Ellen Khuzwayo are to be honoured by having Rhodes University buildings named after them.
The liberation heroes renaming event of the new hall and four students residences, is to be held in March.
University vice-chancellor Dr Saleem Badat said the move was to “acknowledge the contribution of these extraordinary lives”.
“Naming a residence is more than simply attaching a name to a building. It is also a reflection of ethical commitments and a key component of institutional culture,” he said.
The new hall would be named Desmond Tutu Hall while four student residences would be known as Ellen Khuzwayo House, Calata House,after Cradock UDF leader Fort Calata who was murdered by apartheid security police and Mathew Goniwe House, Amina Cachalia House and Rosa Parks House. Sadat said each house would have its own ethos, values and coat of arms.
The names selected served to emphasise the university’s African identity and as a reflection to its Eastern Cape location.
He said the institution also sought to make use of names from local African languages.
Similar ceremonies have been held in the past where some Rhodes University halls and buildings were named after Nelson Mandela, Chris Hani, Adelaide Tambo, Joe Slovo and Victoria Mxenge.
mawandej@thenewage.co.za
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Article source: http://www.thenewage.co.za/40263-1008-53-Rhodess_renamings