media releases - Unisa welcomes Poet Keorapetse Kgositsile amongst its alumni

The University of South Africa (Unisa) will welcome acclaimed South African Poet Laureate and revered struggle veteran, Professor Keorapetse Kgositsile amongst its illustrious alumni when it confers an honorary doctorate on him on Thursday, 13 September 2012. 

The university will confer the degree of Doctor of Literature and Philosophy (honoris causa) on him in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the academic world nationally and internationally and for his involvement in the mentoring and support of youth development initiatives.

Kgositsile is an internationally-acclaimed and well-travelled scholar, poet and political activist who, during the struggle years, played a pivotal role in highlighting the plight of the oppressed masses of South Africa to the international community.

He is one of the founding members of the ANC's Departments of Education and Arts and Culture and a recipient of the prestigious National Order of Ikhamanga in Silver in 2008 for ‘excellent achievements in the field of literature and using these exceptional talents to expose the evils of the system of Apartheid to the world’.

He has studied and taught literature at various institutions in the United States of America and Africa, including in Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Fort Hare in South Africa.

His literary works include such widely-acclaimed poetry collections as Spirits Unchained (1969), My Name is Afrika (1971) and The Present is a Dangerous Place to Live (1993); amongst many.

The media is invited to the graduation ceremony. The details are as follows:

Date                 :           Thursday, 13 September 2012

Time                 :           18:00

Venue               :           ZK Matthews Great Hall, Theo Van Wyk Building, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus,

                                    Preller Street, Muckleneuk Ridge, Tshwane

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