At Sol Plaatje University, the month of October is a moment of remembrance, reflection and renewal. This weekend we honour the life and legacy of Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje through a series of events that carry forward his spirit of intellect, justice and courage.
Today marks the start of the 2025 Sol Plaatje Memorial Weekend, and at the centre of it all stands our Chancellor, Justice Steven Majiedt, whose leadership has embodied Plaatje’s ideals for a decade.
The weekend opens with the Annual Sol Plaatje Public Lecture taking place at the SPU Library Auditorium, Central Campus. In this special address titled “Lessons Learnt During My Career as a Judge from the Life and Legacy of the Venerable Sol Plaatje”, Justice Majiedt reflects on how Plaatje’s values have shaped his own judicial journey. If you cannot attend in person, the lecture will be streamed live online here.
Later this evening the University hosts the Chancellor’s Farewell Dinner, an SPU affair honouring Justice Majiedt’s remarkable ten-year tenure as our inaugural Chancellor. The evening will celebrate his contribution to SPU’s growth, his steady custodianship of our heritage, and his enduring commitment to social justice.
Tomorrow, 11 October, the celebrations continue with the Chancellor’s Fundraising Golf Day at the Kimberley Golf Club, hosted in partnership with Standard Bank. The event raises funds for the Chancellor’s Bursary Fund, which supports the Talent Pipeline Programme, a transformative initiative preparing Northern Cape learners for success in higher education.
The weekend concludes with the Faculty of Education Alumni Homecoming, where graduates return to their alma mater for a day of reconnection and reflection. Enjoy a morning of reflection with special guest Ms Lynn Forbes, a renowned inspirational speaker, philanthropist and mother of the late South African artist AKA (Kiernan Forbes), followed by a campus tour, indigenous games and a festive alumni braai. Alumni will reaffirm their role as ambassadors of one of two universities established in post-apartheid South Africa, carrying forward the vision of our namesake.
This Memorial Weekend reminds us why we exist and what we stand for. As we celebrate our Chancellor and our namesake, we continue to carry forward Sol Plaatje’s enduring legacy to change lives and enable brighter futures through education, courage and service to humanity.
