Jakes Gerwel Tribute 2

A Commercial Feature Cape Times December 6, 2012 11 Hamba kahle, Chancellor Gerwel Co-ordinated by: Brent Cole – 021 488 4174, Special Projects, Independent Newspapers, Cape ‘He ran his race, it is now complete. Others must take over from where he left off.’ From page 10 UWC that often spilled onto the as the vice-chancellor was critical in Under Gerwel, UWC rejected streets he shielded students and aca- creating a gender equitable institution. apartheid, and committed itself to demics confronted by riot police The early 1990s saw UWC become nonracialism, non-sexism and social armed with rubber bullets and tear a key site for policy research in sup- justice and “the development of the gas. port of an equitable and democratic third world communities in South Gerwel’s Litertuur en Apartheid South Africa. Gerwel brought those of Africa”. Access was opened to all published in 1983 remains a key text us working in the arena of higher edu- South Africans and UWC began to in the Afrikaans and southern African cation policy development into con- ditch its previous baggage as a literature discourse. He also published versation with others working on con- “coloured” and “bush” university. a variety of monographs, articles, stitutional, economic, trade, health Intellectual debate flourished and essays and papers on literary, educa- and other policy issues. Many of those UWC became an exciting space for tional and socio-political issues. involved in such policy work become socially committed and engaged schol- There was educational innovation cabinet ministers and leaders of insti- arship. Gerwel took knowledge and that was years ahead of any other uni- tutions post-1994. intellectual work seriously. As he was versity. One area of profound work Another first was when Madiba wont to point out to the more action- was in academic development pro- recruited Gerwel to become demo- oriented: “good intellectual work grammes, which sought to provide cratic South Africa’s first Director entails hard work of a special type. It “epistemological access” and real General and Cabinet Secretary in the is as difficult, if not more difficult, equity of opportunity for the poor. Office of the President. Later he than organising door-to-door work, Gerwel helped to significantly chaired the Nelson Mandela Founda- street committees and mass rallies”. advance gender equity at UWC. Com- tion and the Mandela Rhodes Founda- He did not, however, eschew pared to men, women at UWC suf- tion, which awards postgraduate action. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder fered many disabilities related to scholarships to talented students. with protesters in Cape Town during salaries, benefits, pensions, leave and The numerous honorary doctor- the defiance campaign marches of the the like. While the efforts of women at ates awarded to Professor Gerwel and late 1980s. And during protests at UWC were decisive, Gerwel’s support his extensive leadership roles in civil society, business and sport organisa- tions are all testimony to the respect that he enjoyed in all quarters of society. Gerwel is a magnificent symbol of intellectual, academic, social and per- sonal integrity, professionalism and specialist expertise, courage and human good. He leaves a powerful legacy of bold leadership, critical scholarship, commitment to social justice and a humane society, and social action towards these ends. What Colin Bundy has noted with respect to the late Harold Wolpe applies equally to Gerwel: he “was one of those rare academics who give intel- lectuals a good name”. And what Gerwel has written about Wolpe can also be said of him: he was “one of those citizens and intel- lectuals who, to borrow an evocative phrase from Habermas, never neg- JAKES GERWEL and lected to make public use of his reason Desmond Tutu. at every point: whether as teacher and mentor, as scholar, as member of the liberation movement, as public intellectual, as interlocutor in private con- versation”. Jakes Gerwel can rest content in the knowledge that he lived his life as advocated by an outstanding revolu- tionary: a person’s dearest possession is their life; and since it is given to live but once, live as to feel no torturing regrets for years without purpose; so live that dying one can say: all my life and all my strength was given to the finest cause in the world – the liberation of humankind. Xolani Nyali, a previous Rhodes SRC president who came into contact with Gerwel, wrote to me: “He ran his race, it is now complete. Others must take over from where he left off.” Indeed! Hambe Kahle, bold, humble and gentle man, leader and mentor of great integrity and intellect and dry and understated humour. You will be dearly missed..

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