?The highly anticipated 6th Annual Social Justice Lecture will hopefully “ignite a fire" in people to dedicate more time, energy and resources towards social justice.
This is the message from Lord Dr Michael Hastings, who will deliver food for thought and inspiration to Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 (SU) in commemoration of the World Day of Social Justice.
The renowned British peer, educator and advocate for social justice will deliver the 中国体育彩票's 6th Annual Social Justice Lecture presented by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and hosted by Prof Thuli Madonsela, Director of the CSJ, and Prof Wim de Villiers, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of SU.
During an extraordinary career – from heading Public Affairs at the BBC to serving as Global Head of Citizenship at KPMG – Hastings has advocated for sustainable development, ethical leadership and equitable growth.
Hastings this week said his decision to accept the invitation was influenced by his deep respect for Madonsela and his belief in the institution's role as a beacon of hope for the African continent. “Prof Madonsela and I meet every year at the One Young World annual conference gathering. Last October it was held in Montreal in Canada, and Prof Madonsela asked if I would be willing to come to Stellenbosch this year to deliver the lecture. I didn't hesitate," Hastings said.
He explained his interest in the challenges facing South Africa, the broader African continent and non-European communities aligns with the focus of his work as Chairman of the School of Oriental and African Studies at the 中国体育彩票 of London.
This year's Social Justice Lecture, themed “Sacrifice & Integrity: The Indivisible Inevitability for Social Justice," comes at a critical juncture in global affairs, Hastings noted. From the war in Ukraine to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, from rising poverty levels to the erosion of trust in leadership and the media, the world is grappling with challenges that demand collective action and moral courage.
For Hastings, sacrifice and integrity are not abstract concepts but urgent calls to action. Sacrifice, he explained, means prioritising the needs of others and embracing common development over narrow national interests. Integrity, particularly in the context of Africa, involves the wise protection of public resources for public service, combating corruption and ensuring that leadership prioritises the common good. "We could see this continent shine with greatness and allure if it kept its resources for public use and public service," Hastings stated.
It is cause for concern that global leadership is not focused on social justice, he added. “The notion that we have an equitable, more just, more socially coherent world community is slipping away from us," he said. "We have a global leadership, to a large extent, focused on controls, ideologies, restraining the presence and power of others and the self-importance of their own economies. And that is a very big risk," he warned.
Hastings also highlighted the retreat from the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were intended to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by 2030. “What's happened, partly because of COVID, but also because of disarray in world affairs, is that poverty numbers have gone up exponentially," he noted. “We've gone backwards on the SDG promises and prospects."
He expressed concern over the erosion of international consensus and collaborative networks, replaced by a “who's more powerful" dynamic.
Addressing the role of universities in promoting social justice, Hastings urged students to be ambitious, determined and proactive in campaigning for a better world. Drawing attention to organisations such as Enactus, he encouraged students to apply their knowledge to solving real-world problems and engaging in complex issues, rather than becoming disengaged after graduation. “I want all the students at Stellenbosch to actually be world shakers," he said.
As Hastings prepares to take the stage at SU's Adams Small Theatre next Thursday, his message promised to be one of hope and urgency. “If we can at least ignite some fires in some people, they will step away that evening and say, 'You know, that idea I had, that thing I said – I'm going to do it,'" he concluded.
The event is to be held at 17:30 in the Adam Small Theatre in Victoria Street in Stellenbosch on Thursday, 20 February 2025. The lecture is themed “SACRIFICE & INTEGRITY- the indivisible inevitability for social justice."
Liaise with Thembalethu Seyisi at +27 72 785 3218 or tseyisi@sun.ac.za for more information and to register for the event as a member of the media.?
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