Rector’s eNews 10 : 20 March 2024

We have invited Dr Lungile Bhengu-Baloyi to be our Guest Speaker as we celebrate Human Rights Day a day early this afternoon prior to our breaking up on Thursday. Dr Bhengu-Baloyi is well known in the field of community development and, particularly, regarding the areas of children, youth, women and other issues affecting vulnerable groups such as the elderly, the poor and the unemployed. Over a period of more than 30 years, Dr Bhengu-Baloyi has done integrated work in the sphere of rural development including community based planning, water and transport issues, primary health care and education. In short, she has been passionate about working for human rights and justice throughout KwaZulu-Natal.

The occasion draws to our attention – and that of the boys – once more the fact that the rights of all people are enshrined in the Constitution of this country and the onus is on the state to protect and enhance the well-being of its citizens. Amongst other matters, it underlines the rights of individuals to life and liberty, to freedom of opinion and expression, the right to equality before the law and equal protection and benefit from the law, the right to basic education and the freedom to act in a way which does not harm others.

The celebration of the day also emphasises the importance of our taking positive action in addressing some of the inequalities which we see in our broader community: for example some within our Michaelhouse community have been active in supporting impoverished people through feeding schemes and our boys have helped in our footprint schools around Michaelhouse by giving of their time to assist with reading, teaching sporting skills, providing sports equipment, painting classrooms and in other ways.

In no way are we indicating any sense of being self-satisfied, but it is also important that the boys are inspired to channel their energies into making a positive contribution to the lives of others and this is what an occasion such as Human Rights Day can lead to. We thank Dr Bhengu-Baloyi for her contribution to focusing our boys on the many positive actions which they can and should take to enhance our broader society.

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