Azania Simthandile Tyhali, guest speaker at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Public Lecture hosted by the Welkom Campus Student Representative Council.

The CUT Welkom Campus Student Representative Council organised a Public Lecture of great significance, aiming to pay tribute to the enduring legacy of Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe. Sobukwe, a towering figure in the South African struggle against colonial apartheid and a revered Pan-Africanist advocate, was the focal point of the event.

Tyhali’s lecture delved into the pivotal role of student activism in shaping society, drawing inspiration from Sobukwe’s leadership and beliefs. She underscored the profound impact of colonialism in South Africa, arguing that black South Africans have been long denied independence, including control over their education. She highlighted student activism as a potent tool in confronting these deep-seated historical injustices.

“I aim to explore how student activism seeks to address these contradictions, particularly through the lens of Robert Sobukwe, both as a student activist and as a leader. Through Sobukwe, I hope to emphasise the role of students in realising the vision of the society he envisioned,” she said.

When unpacking her content, Tyhali focused on Sobukwe’s concept of "non-racialism," which rejected racialism and multi-racialism in favour of true liberation. She traced his influence from his days as a student leader at Fort Hare, where he envisioned universities as intellectual hubs for African empowerment. She also connected past struggles to present-day issues, such as the financial barriers to education, lack of student accommodation, and the broader political and economic challenges black South African students face.

“It is important to first unpack the nature of South Africa as a polity in order to understand why the Africanists adopted their ideals, and why the concept of non-racialism is so central to their political framework. Even within Africanist and Pan-African spaces, non-racialism is often conflated with multi-racialism, which, in itself, is a form of racism.”

The lecture was followed by a lively Q&A session, where students and educators actively engaged with Tyhali's ideas and shared their own perspectives. CUT students chanting political songs to celebrate the legacy of Mangaliso Robert Sobukwe.

She added that Sobukwe viewed students as the torchbearers of society and people capable of initiating change. “Yet, he also cautioned that students are in a state of transition, often seen as an elite group removed from the realities of the masses,” she alluded.

Reflecting on the #FeesMustFall and #RhodesMustFall movements, which were significant student-led protests against the high cost of education and the legacy of colonialism in South African universities, Tyhali passionately urged students to reclaim their intellectual and political agency. She stressed that true activism requires more than mobilisation but deep political understanding, critical analysis, and a commitment to long-term transformation.

She called on students to embrace Sobukwe’s vision of education as a means of service to Africa and added that activism should not be about personal gain but collective liberation. “I urge you to challenge your institutions and policies that continue to uphold inequality. The legacy of Sobukwe must live on in the ongoing struggle for justice. Student activism should remain a vital force in shaping South Africa’s future,” she concluded.