On 14 November 2025, Unisa staged an unforgettable evening of celebration and reflection to honour seven awardees at the prestigious Chancellor’s Calabash Awards Dinner for 2025. The university has celebrated a total of 64 outstanding individuals since the inception of the awards in 2007.

The awards recognise individuals and organisations whose contributions continue to shape South Africa, the continent and the world. Unisa Chancellor, His Excellency Dr Thabo Mbeki, paid tribute in his remarks to trailblazers in the areas of education, public service, global development, liberation heritage, business leadership, and social justice.

Call for a more prosperous and inclusive society

The awardees were commended for their commitment to uplifting communities and bringing change to society, thereby highlighting the transformative power of education and leadership. The Chancellor said that the calabash, a hollowed-out gourd, “has been used to symbolise what Unisa is setting itself out to achieve with these awards. The calabash is interwoven with South Africa’s community, cultural heritage and identity, and from the various perspectives it symbolises abundance, nourishment and spiritual growth.”

His Excellency Dr Thabo Mbeki, Unisa Chancellor

The Chancellor further reflected on the current state of the nation, emphasising that “the awards are an opportunity to pause and ask ourselves pertinent questions of what kind of society we are building”. Continuing, he pressed for an urgent national dialogue to collectively address the country's political, social, and economic challenges, which will serve to deepen South Africa's democracy.

The G20 Summit in South Africa and its link to education

In her institutional address, the Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), Professor Puleng LenkaBula, also emphasised the significant moment in which South Africa finds itself, citing the G20 Summit that the country is staging this year. She highlighted that as South Africa concludes its presidency of the G20 held under the theme Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability, “we carry the unique responsibility of demonstrating how knowledge, research and innovation, and the practice of public policy combined to serve the common good for all humanity.”

Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor

She further said: “Universities cannot claim legitimacy and relevancy unless we engage organically with the issues facing society. The university has, to this end, forums to link students   to the G20 processes through global research working groups, which worked on finding scholarly solutions to address challenges facing humanity.”

She continued: “In line with our engaged policy mandate, the University of South Africa has been engaged in the G20 processes, both as a contributor and as a facilitator to the conversations that might inform the outcome of the G20”.

Universities are seen as communities and institutions that create ideas and supply imagination, which is linked to Unisa’s vision of being the African university shaping the future in the service of humanity. “It is our hope that this year's G20 gathering will amplify Africa's voices in the global arena,” the VC said as she advocated for a G20 report that will drive development with inclusivity to Africa’s interests.

As the VC congratulated the recipients of the awards, she also mentioned Unisa’s successes in the educational sphere. “We are appreciative that in this academic year we have graduated over 66 000 students. Of these, 800 have completed master's degrees and, for the first time, our university has produced 550 doctoral qualifications.”

On student support, she mentioned that Unisa has ensured that 88 000 students are supported by national financial aid.

“The university is awaiting results from the Department of Higher Education,” continued the VC, “and we are hopeful that we might be moving from the top six to the top five because of the output of our university”. She mentioned that among its many achievements, Unisa is expected to have an unqualified audit.

Celebrating educational impact, philanthropy, education, service and activism

The recipients of the Outstanding Educator Award included the Zenex Foundation, which received recognition for its unwavering contributions to educational advancement in South Africa, particularly in the areas of public education and literacy.

Honoured in the same category were Professor Tebogo Moja and Professor Jeffrey David Sachs.  Moja was recognised for her role in shaping South Africa’s higher education policy and the numerous international awards she received for her leadership and scholarship. Sachs received the award for his global leadership in sustainability and international development, and was celebrated for decades of service guiding world policy on climate change, development, and global cooperation.

Dr Johan van Zyl received the Public Servant Award. This accomplished economist and business leader was celebrated for his contribution to public institutions, financial policy, and transformative development initiatives.

The Liberation Struggle Hero/Heroine Award was awarded for courage and sacrifice. Sam Nujoma, the former President of Namibia, was honoured posthumously for his role as a leader of the Namibian national liberation movement and for his efforts in campaigning for Namibia's political independence from South African rule. Also honoured was South African lawyer and writer Christine Qunta, who has made significant contributions to South Africa’s legal, corporate, and media sectors through anti-apartheid activism and the advancement of justice, equality, and black empowerment.

The Outstanding Alumna Award was presented to Yvonne ‘Chaka Chaka’ Mhinga for her role as an advocate for global health and social justice. She has partnered with the UN, the Global Fund, and the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, and is the founder of the Princess of Africa Foundation.

The Unisa Robben Island Alumnus Award was presented to Peter-Paul Ngwenya. The award recognises the role of political prisoners and activists (both men and women) who made immense sacrifices towards the liberation of South Africa. Following his release from Robben Island in 1991, Ngwenya distinguished himself as a business leader, entrepreneur and trustee, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to leadership, empowerment and economic transformation.

* By Busisiwe Mahlangu, Communications Coordinator, Unisa Foundation and Alumni Relations