Dr Mamphela Ramphele receives the LIP award for her exceptional leadership
On Thursday, 17 November, during an evening of splendour and style the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) honoured dr Mamphela Ramphele with the prestigious Leadership in Practice (LIP) award.
Since the first LIP award was presented in 1989 the SBL used this award to give recognition to South African men and women who have outshone many others in their holistic leadership acumen and their achievements in their chosen careers. The LIP – the only award the SBL introduced to recognise the business community of our country – has seen individuals to the calibre of Cyril Ramaphosa, Cheryl Carolus and dr Aggrey Klaaste, forming part of the now exclusive group of LIP recipients, honoured for their dedication and exceptional contribution in leadership.Dr Mamphela Ramphele, has excelled as academic, business woman and human rights activist; through which she helped pave the way for sustainable political and intellectual democracy in South Africa. As a child of the struggle she was one of the founders of the Black Consciousness Movement, alongside Steve Biko.
Throughout the years she also persevered as an academic and could rise to the stage on various occasions to qualify amongst others as a medical doctor and also successfully complete a PhD in Social Anthropology. In 1996 she climbed steps to the academic stage once again but this time to be appointed to the position of Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, becoming the first black woman to hold this position at any South African university.“Great men and women must be tested in the laboratory of adversity”“
Why are leaders great? Because they stand up for what they believe in.” were the opening words of Prof David Abdulai, CEO and Executive Director of Unisa SBL, upon introducing the 2010 winner of the LIP award. Prof Abdulai urged leaders not to turn a blind eye to injustice and to listen to the whispers and so that they won’t have to hear the screams (an old Cherokee saying). He said that courage is based on principles and not perceptions.He quoted former President Nelson Mandela who (during the Rivonia trail) said: “During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. In closing prof Abdulai said that great men and women must be tested in the laboratory of adversity.“We are a great country on a great continent”In her address to guests at the event, dr Ramphele said that it is time that South Africans transform themselves from being less than human beings to being the owners of the greatest country on the greatest continent. She said that South Africa’s greatness is undermined by our lack of belief in ourselves. We still have the attitude of “subjects”. She pleaded with South Africans to recognise their own greatness and to be that leader that we are waiting for. “The Lord created each of us with great talents” dr Ramphele said and she made the statement: “Imagine what we can accomplish when we can use all the talents in South Africa?” She urged all people of South Africa not to ever be treated as subjects again and to stand up and say “no” when any other person in this country is treated as a subject. She also said that public servants must stand in service of the public and not the public in service of public servants.In the 7 years, from 1977 – 1984 she was banished by the old South African government and sent to the town of Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province, dr Ramphele commented, that she kept her sanity during this time by studying through Unisa. Celebrating her life and success with her were amongst others Mrs Mbeki, Banthu Holomisa (Maj-gen retired), musicians Lira, Latoya Mangezi and Cape Town’s divas: Three Tons of Fun, as well as master of ceremonies Tumisho Masha. Prospective recipients of this award are nominated by Unisa SBL Alumni and SBL Management more detail regarding the opening of nominations for the 2011 recipient will be made available on the SBL website in March 2012. A song, Rise Up, was especially written by Amanda Murray for this event and sung by Latoya Mangezi:
Rise Up
Born in shame, a diamond in the rough
A topsy-turvy world with no-one to care
In this chessboard of life
I believed and reached for the beauty
No more no more will this endure
The change is now the change is here
I rise up, rise up towards the lights
Soaring crystal clear and free
In a glittering rainbow sky
Sorrow my only friend
Born of this land, a child upon my back
A journey for life and freedom unseen
The barren womb of hope
I believed and reached for a dream
No more no more will this endure
The change is now the change is here
I rise up, rise up towards the lights
Soaring crystal clear and free
In a glittering rainbow sky
Sorrow my only friend
Born again, the rain to clear the dust
A new dawn and a new people
This fertile lands of
Beauty and peace forever ours
No more no more will this endure
The change is now the change is here
I rise up, rise up towards the lights
Soaring crystal clear and free
In a glittering rainbow sky
I believed
Effort Scroll:
The UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL)and the Alumni Association recognise and pay tribute to theoutstanding achievements of
Dr Mamphela Ramphele
Dr Ramphele has risen above many obstacles and hasbrought about groundbreaking achievements as a businesswoman, academic and human rights activist who paved theway for a sustainable political and intellectual democracy inSouth Africa. Through her exemplary and visionaryleadership, Dr Ramphele has succeeded in building a proud and vibrant business legacy based on her embracement of sound ethical and moral values. Her passionate pursuit of people empowerment and care for the communities she operated in are renowned. Her distinct role as philanthropist and liberator to humanity has left a memorable footprint in the history of our nation. We are honoured to acknowledge her exceptional business, political and academic leadership achievements and bestow this prestigious award on her
