On 15 September 2025, SPU’s Faculty of Humanities, in collaboration with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), hosted a public lecture titled Democracy in the Age of Disinformation at the Humanities Building on SPU’s Central Campus.
Faculty Dean, Prof Russel Viljoen, opened the programme with remarks underscoring the urgency of the topic: “Democracy is not only about achieving victory but also about sustaining it. As Nelson Mandela reminded us, democracy and human rights are inseparable. This collaboration between SPU and the SAHRC stands as a living testament to how the protection of human rights underpins and advances democracy.”
Mr Buyisile July, SAHRC Human Rights Advocacy and Research Officer in Upington, introduced the keynote speaker. He emphasized that the lecture reflects a strong and growing partnership between SPU and the SAHRC to deepen democracy and advance the promises of the Constitution.
Commissioner Prof Tshepo Madlingozi, Full-time Commissioner at the SAHRC, framed his keynote around a provocative question: “Does the will of the people trump the Constitution, or does the Constitution constitute the will of the people?” Calling this a “constitutional paradox,” he explored whether the people create the Constitution or the Constitution creates the people, linking it to the Freedom Charter’s bold principle that “the people shall govern.”
Prof Madlingozi warned that in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, media manipulation and disinformation, the very idea of “the will of the people” has become fragile and contested. He challenged the notion of democracy as a Western import, drawing on African traditions of collective decision-making, systems of accountability between kings and councils, and early writings that highlighted indigenous democratic practices.
He further argued that democracy is “under siege” globally, pointing to contexts such as the United States where free elections coexist with rising populism and authoritarian tendencies. “There is tension between the Constitution and the will of the people, and disinformation threatens our democracy, which is globally under attack,” he cautioned.
The lecture closed with a dynamic question-and-answer session. SPU students, staff and community members engaged Prof Madlingozi on pressing issues facing South Africa today, including gender-based violence, unemployment, social inequalities and the role of the SAHRC in advancing human rights awareness.
