Michelle Jones
Education Writer
ANGLICAN Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu says he is thrilled that Thabo Makgoba, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, is following in his footsteps to become the new chancellor of the University of the Western Cape (UWC).
Tutu, 80, stepped down as chancellor – a position he held for 23 years – last year.
Makgoba, 51, will be inaugurated on Tuesday.
Tutu told the Cape Times yesterday that Makgoba was a good choice for UWC.
“He is younger, he is more interesting and he is more handsome than me. I am so very glad for UWC and for Archbishop Makgoba, who is making his mark early, both within South Africa and overseas.”
Brian Williams, chairman of the Council, said the decision about who to appoint took many long and in-depth discussions about the university and its future direction.
“The decision was made to follow a path of enrichment by having a spiritual leader of the calibre of the Archbishop as the symbol of what UWC stands for.
“The Archbishop is a modest person who is an
intellectual with deep spirituality. He combines wisdom with a warm caring disposition and this makes him an ideal healer and unifier. As our chancellor, he is the symbol of spiritual power and academic excellence. He can inspire the university to even greater heights.
“For these and other reasons we have chosen Archbishop Thabo Makgoba as our chancellor.”
This isn’t the first time Makgoba has followed in Tutu’s footsteps. Both have also served as Archbishop of Cape Town.
Makgoba was born on December 15, 1960.
He graduated from Orlando High School in Soweto and afterwards obtained a Masters degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits), where he also lectured part-time from 1993 to 1996.
Makgoba then went to St Paul’s College in Grahamstown to study for the Anglican ministry.
He married Lungelwa Manona, daughter of academic Cecil Manona.
Makgoba’s first few years in ministry were spent in the Diocese of Johannesburg; first as a curate at the Cathedral and then as Wits chaplain. He was then put in charge of St Alban’s Church and later of Christ the King, Sophiatown.
He became Archdeacon of Sophiatown in 1999. He is also patron of two organisations, Hope and Africa for Haiti.