Dear UJ community,
Tomorrow, 27 April 2024, marks exactly 30 years since our country’s first democratic elections. I still remember that day vividly when I readied myself to vote for the first time, as the nation prepared to step out into an entirely new South Africa. It was a period filled with hope and excitement, the kind of feeling that comes around only once in a lifetime and which will linger on for as long as we live. We emerged from the shadows of apartheid with a dream for a non-racial and non-sexist society which embraces the values of equity and justice for all.
Freedom Day
Now, three decades on, as we celebrate South Africa’s Freedom Day, we also honour the sacrifices made, the struggles endured, and the victories achieved in our journey toward unity and freedom. We also must take this time to pause and reflect on our journey and where we are headed. Whilst we have achieved much over the last 30 years, it is important to recognise that these freedoms are not guaranteed and must be continually safeguarded through active citizenship and engagement with the democratic process. Watch my Freedom Day message video below:
You may also read my latest article that appeared in the Daily Maverick yesterday, titled Our journey towards realising the dream imagined in 1994 is far from over. In it, I reflect on the significance of the convergence between education and the law – particularly in a young democracy such as ours, as well as the importance of upholding the integrity and accountability of public universities, which is paramount in maintaining public trust, among other salient issues.
Reliving Sophiatown through the UJ’s virtual reality experience
This week marked the unveiling of an exciting new Virtual Reality (VR) project. This pioneering project revives the soul and character of Sophiatown, one of South Africa’s historic suburbs and cultural hubs that had parts of it destroyed in the 1950s. The project is a collaboration between the UJ Metaverse Research Unit in the Institute for Intelligent Systems and the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre (THMC), and is led by Izak Potgieter, a doctoral student and digital artist.
With this technology, users can explore the streets and local landmarks, listen to the music that filled the air, and even engage with the community members who once called Sophiatown home. Beyond technology, the project is an odyssey through time, aligning seamlessly with UJ’s commitment to harness technology for societal impact. Watch the documentary below:
Notre Dame–IBM Technology Ethics Lab funding
Still on technology, I am pleased to announce that UJ’s innovative project, Technology Transfer and Culture in Africa: Large Scale Models in Focus, has been selected to receive funding through the Notre Dame–IBM Technology Ethics Lab. This project, led by Professor Catherine Botha of the Department of Philosophy, is one of 17 to receive funding and has been granted just over $1,000,000 for 2024 through its third annual Call for Proposals (CFP).
The project promotes broad-based, interdisciplinary research as well as thought and policy leadership in artificial intelligence and other technology ethics, among other benefits. Congratulations Prof Botha and her team for this exciting development. I trust that it will help provide solutions to real-world challenges in ethical technology design by engaging with relevant stakeholders.
POPIA: Information Regulator visits UJ
As communicated last week, the Information Regulator visited our University on Wednesday and Thursday as part of their work to ensure compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) 4 of 2013. The Constitution of South Africa provides that everyone has the right to privacy and protects us against unlawful collection, retention, dissemination and use of personal information, which is regulated in terms of POPIA. I thank our CFO, Ms Nolwazi Mamorare and other MEC members, as well as their teams, for ensuring a successful visit and for their commitment to continuously working towards full compliance.
Our Compliance Office, headed by Ms Pheladi Kekana, has been engaging with the various faculties and divisions regarding the importance of adhering to POPIA and requests for information guided by the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) 2 of 2000. I urge you to continue to familiarise yourself with the documents relevant to your area to refresh your understanding of the measures implemented through the approved policies and protocols. You should also watch the videos that have been circulated across your domains.
Wushu Championships
Last Saturday, our Confucius Institute sent 18 Confucius Institute students to participate in the South African Wushu Championships, including eight primary school students from the Jan Hofmeyer Community Centre teaching site. They won nine gold medals in total, and our Confucius Institute wushu coach Elvis won two gold medals for Tai Chi and Tai Ji Sword and was once again selected for the South African Wushu national team. Last year, he represented South Africa at the World Wushu Championships in Sichuan Province, China and won a silver medal. Congratulations to all and we have no doubt that coach Elvis will do us proud!
UJ athlete qualifies for the Paris 2024 Olympics
Please join me in congratulating Mr Lythe Pillay, who became the second UJ student-athlete to qualify for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He qualified for the international showpiece after clocking an explosive 44.31 in the men’s senior 400m sprint, winning a gold medal in the process. In all, UJ athletes secured five gold and eight silver medals, contributing to Gauteng Province’s medal haul under the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) banner. To read more about this, as well as achievements by other UJ athletes, click here.
High Tea with the VC
Finally, I wish to thank everyone who attended the High Tea with the VC event last week, when I hosted Dr Alistair Mokoena, the Country Director of Google South Africa, for a discussion of his book, Servings of Self-Mastery: Bite-sized Pep Talks to Unlock Greatness. As usual, it was an exciting event, and it was a pleasure to listen to our staff and students interacting with Dr Mokoena. Again, I express my gratitude to him for pledging R50 000 to assist our financially needy and academically deserving students. Watch the video of the event here.
Ke a leboha, ngiyabonga, thank you, baie dankie!
Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi: Vice-Chancellor and Principal
Times mentioned in this newsletter refer to the South African time zone.
