Debate rages on University of Venda to be renamed after revered academic Prof Muxe Gessler Nkondo
PROF Muxe Gessler Nkondo made a profound impact at the University of Venda (Univen) in Limpopo that a debate is now raging for the institution to be renamed after him.
Nkondo passed away on Sunday aged 83. He was a vice-chancellor and principal of Univen between 1994 and 2005.
The impact Nkondo had at the university is aptly summarised in a statement by the university after his passing, saying he shaped “our university into what it is today”.
“Prof Nkondo served the university with dedication and passion, leaving a lasting impact on our institution and the lives of many within our community.
“During his tenure, Nkondo championed academic excellence, innovation and inclusivity, shaped our university into what it is today.
“Through his unwavering commitment, during the higher education transformation which led to mergers of institution of higher education in South Africa, Univen was retained as an independent, comprehensive university.”
The debate on the name changing of the university, which is raging outside “the official channels” but gained traction on various social media platforms, started a day after the announcement of the passing of Nkondo.
The debate started with some participants in the social media platforms suggesting that the road leading to the university from the Thohoyandou CBD be renamed after Nkondo. It then swiftly moved to the name changing of the university itself.
The university was established as a branch of the University of the North (now University of Limpopo) with 177 students in 1981.
Meanwhile, details for the send-off of Nkondo have been released. A memorial service organized by the University of South Africa (Unisa) is to be held on Wednesday, 21 August 2024, at the institutions premises in Pretoria, starting at 2pm.
The University of Venda and the University of Limpopo will jointly hold the memorial service at the latter’s R40 Conference Hall on Thursday, 22 August 2024.
The funeral service is at Freedom Park eritage Site & Museum in Pretoria on Friday, 23 August 2024 at 8am.
