Monday 22 April 2013

Award of the Order of Mapungubwe: Silver to Professor Malegapuru Makgoba

Professor Malegapuru Makgoba will be honoured by President Jacob Zuma with the Order of Mapungubwe (Silver) for his dedication and excellent contribution to the field of science and medicine, locally and internationally; and for his contribution to the building of democracy in South Africa. He is an outstanding academic and a pioneer of transformation in higher education. He is an outstanding academic and a pioneer of transformation in higher education’.  The Award will be made at a special ceremony that will be held on the 27^th April at the Presidential Guest House. According to the government website this Order is awarded to South African citizens for excellence and exceptional achievement. ‘The Order of Mapungubwe is awarded to South African citizens for achievements that have impacted internationally and served the interests of the Republic of South Africa’.

I congratulate and applaud Professor Makgoba on achieving this notable milestone in his distinguished career. Equally I applaud his contributions to medicine and science. Under his decisive leadership the University has secured global partnerships to establish major research initiatives that include the prestigious KwaZulu-Natal Research Institute for Tuberculosis and HIV (K-RITH). His indefatigable commitment to speaking out on issues of importance and his clear vision of a transformed South Africa have consistently informed his leadership style, his insistence on high standards and his capacity to effect institutional change. His bold stand against AIDS denialism, pitted him against highly influential thinkers in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He continues to serve South Africa and the global scientific community with distinction. He is the current Vice-President for Scientific Planning and Review of the Paris-based International Council for Science (ICSU) and is the recipient of the NRF Lifetime Achievement Award. Under his leadership, the University has gained a reputation as an African centre of excellence.

I wish him every success.

Issued by 

Mrs Phumla Mnganga

Chair of Council

University of KwaZulu-Natal