Call for Africa to help mark Fort Hare centenary

THE ANC in the Eastern Cape wants the African Union to publicly recognise the University of Fort Hare as a continental powerhouse for its role in educating African leaders when the institution celebrates its centenary in 2016.

The institution has produced some of the continent's leaders like renowned former statesman Nelson Mandela, former Tanzania president Julius Nyerere, Zambia's Kenneth Kaunda and Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe.

Yesterday, ANC provincial secretary Oscar Mabuyane said the party's provincial working committee decided this week to call for the continent to join in the institution's centenary celebrations.

"We think the celebrations cannot be limited to just institutional celebration. The university has to be celebrated by the whole continent. We know the contribution that Fort Hare has made under difficult circumstances and produced many leaders. That should be kept in our minds forever. - Mkhululi Ndamase