Award-winning journalist Zubeida Jaffer, who owns her own publishing company Number10Publishers, walked off with a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil), honoris causa degree from the University of Stellenbosch, on Monday December 5.
The Wynberg resident, said she is “deeply moved” by this acknowledgement.
“May we all be acknowledged for the sacrifices we made for this country,” she said.
Ms Jaffer said: “I stand here this morning for those journalists and others who have made enormous efforts, not only to secure freedom in this country, but do so on a platform constantly committed to uniting all South Africans in their diversity and not encouraging the impulse towards separateness.
“Journalists and others who understood that they were not better than other South Africans but needed to work together as human beings rather than separately to achieve everyone’s highest potential,” said Ms Jaffer.
“Thank you too for making it possible for my mother to join me here and see me graduate for the first time. Last week she turned 96 years old. I am so, so happy she has lived to see this day.”
The author of several books including, Her memoir, Our Generation, which tells the story of her emotional journey through the years of South Africa’s turbulence into a new democracy.
Her second book, Love in the Time of Treason, is the story of Ayesha Dawood of Worcester who was charged with treason alongside Nelson Mandela in the 1950s. It is published internationally under the title, On Trial with Mandela.
Her third book, Beauty of the Heart, the Life and Times of Charlotte Mannya Maxeke, tells the story of a formidable South African woman leader who also became South Africa’s first black female graduate.
Ms Jaffer was also awarded the Allan Kirkland Soga Lifetime Achievement Award 2020.
Her speech is available on her website in English afrikaans and isiXhosa at www.zubeidajaffer.co.za
