UL to celebrate 60th anniversary with stakeholders

The University of Limpopo (UL) and its stakeholders will celebrate the institution’s 60th anniversary from 9 to 13 September at Onkgopotse Tiro Hall.
Mahlo Mokgalong, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UL said the celebrations will be a culmination of the university’s history and successes over the past 60 years.
The University College of the North, now known as University of Limpopo (UL), was established on 1 August 1959, before formally becoming the University of the North on 1 January 1970.
Since acquiring the new name of UL at its rebirth in 2005 through a merger, the institution’s alumni have continued to lead transformation nationally and internationally. In a nutshell, UL’s primary aim is to produce well-rounded students whose expertise in their respective areas will be beneficial to their communities and humanity at large.
Mokgalong was quoted to have said that, from as early Student Representative Councils (SRCs) as the one led from 1971 to 1972 by the late Onkgopotse Tiro, memorable politically inspired gatherings remain to this day milestones of the struggle history of the University of Limpopo.
“In a speech he gave at a graduation ceremony in April 1972, Tiro denounced apartheid and its attendant policies, including that of Bantu Education. Same way national leaders of black political resistance such as Ruth First, Nelson Mandela and Robert Sobukwe had been brutalised for their stand, UL SRC president Onkgopotse Tiro was parcel-bombed and died in exile in Botswana in 1974.
Alumni of the University of that era such as Lybon Mabasa, Aubrey Mokoena and Pandelani Nefolovhodwe continued to lead in national politics to this day.”
“After historic events surrounding Tiro’s speech of 1972, others similarly led from the University of Limpopo campus followed. An example is the Turfloop leg of the Viva Frelimo Rally on 25 September 1974.
It was inspired nationally by struggle organisations led by activists such as Striney Moodly and Steve Biko. Some of University of Limpopo alumni who actively led the liberation struggle waged from the University of Limpopo then are Terror Lekota, Matthews Phosa and Cyril Ramaphosa, now incumbent President of the Republic of South Africa.”
“In the early 1980s, Tiro Commemoration and Steve Biko Memorial services were organised and held by latter day students on University of Limpopo campus.
SRC members who led the revolution at that time were the likes of Stanza Bopape, Mlamli Davids, Kabelo Lengane, Thabo Molewa, Lesibana (JRL) Rafapa and George Madala Phatudi. In the wake of these student resistance activities, subsequent SRCs of the institution were led in the early days of the unbanning of the ANC and other liberation movements by the likes of Victor Kgomoesoana and David Makhura. The latter was SRC President in 1990 and 1992, and is now Premier of the Gauteng Province of South Africa,” concluded Mokgalong.

Story: Herbert Rachuene
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