Evidence wa ka Ngobeni
The newly elected first black vice-chancellor of Pretoria Technikon has vowed to transform the historically white institution to reflect the new democratic South Africa and the values articulated by the African National Congress-led government.
Professor Langalibalele Ngcobo, whose appointment was confirmed by the technikon council last week, said his appointment to the hot seat should be seen as “the realisation of the transformation process which the technikon council has embarked on”.
Ngcobo, who is deputy vice-chancellor in charge of student affairs and support services, will work closely with top black businessman Dikgang Moseneke, chancellor of the institution.
Ngcobo begins his five-year term on September 1 and will preside over a mainly white executive committee.
He is faced with a number of challenges. One of them is dealing with racial problems that the technikon has been experiencing since 1994. He said this will be addressed through various initiatives and programmes.
Over the past few years black students have complained about conditions at some of the residences, some of which house students of only one race group.
Some black students complain they are marginalised while many white students believe the interests of black students are unfairly prioritised by Pretoria Technikon’s management.
In 1999 the Afrikaans-dominated Freedom Front student organisation focused its campaign during student representative council elections against “unfair affirmative action”. Surprisingly, some blacks students helped the FF to victory.
Ngcobo said the technikon has in place regulations that control issues of human rights.
“Issues of interracial relationships are in the heart. The change must be in our students. We need programmes to encourage mutual values and understanding of differences among our students,” he said.
Most of the technikon’s employees are white. Ngcobo said the institution has developed an equity plan that will be implemented over three years.
“We plan to address the question of equity with more speed. But it should be pointed out that equity, which is seen as transformation, is more than changing a white person with a black person, or a woman with a man,” he said.
“Equity is more than that [it] is more about empowering the people of the country as a whole, not necessarily just the disadvantaged. But we must create a sound infrastructure and empower all our people if we want to become a viable country.”
Ngcobo said under his leadership the technikon will forge partnerships rather than compete with its neighbours, Technikon Northern Gauteng and Technikon North West.
“My vision is to promote the technikon and to ensure that the imperatives of South Africa, which are indicated by the Ministry of Education and the Higher Education Act of 1997, are actuated,” he said.
“Our vision is to function like a university of technology. It’s not that we are in defiance of the education plan: the ministry has said that these kinds of debates should be raised.
“The thrust of a university of technology is providing better education, community service, participating in the growth of our country and empowering our people.”