It is with immense sadness that the Durban University of Technology (DUT) mourns the passing of Professor Chabani Manganyi on Friday, 01 November 2024, who was an extraordinary scholar, revered leader and a cherished friend to South African academia.
Professor Manganyi leaves a legacy of intellectual brilliance and unmatched contributions to higher education in South Africa and beyond. His life was a remarkable journey dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge, critical thought and the transformation of education in South Africa. He received a BA in 1962, Honours in Psychology in 1964, MA in 1968 and DLitt et Phil in Psychology in 1970. His achievements in education included the establishment of a Psychology Department at the University of Transkei (1976), acting as Senior Research Fellow and Visiting Professor at Wits’ African Studies Institute (1980 to 1990s), being appointed Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the North (now the University of Limpopo) and being appointed as the first Director-General of Education of a Post-Apartheid democratic dispensation, under President Nelson Mandela’s administration.
In 1992, before joining government as the first Director-General of Education, he served as the CEO of the Joint Education Trust, which was primarily established with the singular aim of transforming South African education. He would later go on to serve as Chairperson of the Council on Higher Education. These various positions stand as a solid testament to his visionary approach and unwavering commitment to progress. His guidance shaped policies, institutions and countless lives and his mark on South African education is both enduring and profound.
As Director-General of Education under President Mandela, Professor Manganyi was entrusted with the monumental task of dismantling apartheid’s educational structures and creating a unified, democratic system. His strength, courage and conviction laid the foundation for a more inclusive and just society. His pioneering spirit extended into academia, where he broke barriers as the first Black psychologist in South Africa, a field in which he would leave an indelible legacy.
Throughout his career, Professor Manganyi was honoured with numerous awards, including being named an Honorary Fellow of the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA), receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Humanities Book Award by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf).
His memoir, Apartheid and the Making of a Black Psychologist, stands as a powerful narrative of resilience, reflection and purpose.
In recognition of his academic achievements and significant contributions to psychology in South Africa, Professor Manganyi was honoured by the University of the Witwatersrand, the University of South Africa and Nelson Mandela University, who awarded him honorary doctorates, while Rhodes University’s Psychology Department presented him with a Certificate of Acknowledgement for his impact on psychology and social change.
In July this year, the Caribbean Philosophical Association (CPA) named Professor Manganyi as one of the 2024 recipients of the Frantz Fanon Lifetime Achievement Award.
His legacy will forever resonate through the lives he touched, the minds he inspired and the fields he transformed. Professor Manganyi was more than a scholar; he was a beacon of intellectual courage, a champion for truth and a relentless advocate for justice. His profound influence lives on in every student he mentored, every colleague he encouraged and every barrier he dismantled.
As we honour his extraordinary life, we are reminded of the significant impact of his work, a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. Though he has departed this physical world, his spirit remains, lighting the way forward for those who follow in his footsteps. May we find solace and strength in his memory and may his legacy guide us in the pursuit of a better, more compassionate world.
On behalf of the DUT community, we extend our deepest condolences to Professor Manganyi’s beloved wife, Dr Sekele-Manganyi, his children Nkhensani and Tintswalo and all of his extended family, friends and colleagues. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
The memorial service for the late Professor Chabani Manganyi will take place at the University of the Witwatersrand at 14h00 on Wednesday, 06 November 2024 and the funeral service will be held at 08h00 on Friday, 08 November 2024 at St Michael’s Anglican Church, 75 Mount St, Bryanston, Sandton in Gauteng.
Pictured: The late Professor Chabani Manganyi.
Photography Source: The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Alan Khan
