The Chota Motala Memorial Lecture will always play an important role in the National narrative

With these powerful messages in mind, MANCOSA hosted the Annual Dr Mahomed "Chota" Motala Memorial Lecture, which was held at MANCOSA's Durban Campus on 29 November. The theme of this year's lecture was: The time is now to serve humanity. A social justice perspective.

An important platform for change

Mohamed Goga, MD of MANCOSA, points out that the lecture is an important part of the fabric of MANCOSA and South Africa and always focuses on social justice, a cause Dr Motala was passionate about and advocated for throughout his life. 

The annual memorial lecture is held to commemorate the life and contributions of the late Dr Motala and to celebrate his courage and leadership as a political activist. The lecture also celebrates him as an intellectual and caring medical professional who selflessly served communities of activists and countless struggle heroes. Dr Motala also mentored many activists whose ideas and thinking were shaped by the political education they received during some of the most difficult years of the liberation struggle. These values of courage, intellect and commitment to the development of the less privileged are virtues that MANCOSA aims to embody through its value system, its students and staff.

"The lecture is important to MANCOSA because Dr Motala stood for the same principles as MANCOSA's founder, the late Professor Yusuf Karodia. Their commitment to education and the development of the less privileged are virtues that all South Africans should stand for. As we saw in the past, national dialogue is key to nation-building," says Goga.

This year's lecture was delivered by Professor Thuli Madonsela who has become a beacon of hope in the fight for equality through the eradication of corruption within South Africa. "Prof Madonsela has become the people's champion by exposing corruption and beginning the process of prosecuting those who participate in it. She provided key insights into the journey of South Africa from the birth of democracy until now and the future that we can look forward to as South Africans," says Goga.

Improving the lives of South Africans

Founded in 1995, MANCOSA started as an empowerment initiative in the post-apartheid era, aimed at providing accessible management education to those once marginalised. Registered under the Higher Education Act (Act 101 of 1997), the institution has evolved over its 29-year journey, expanding its reach and mission to stand today as a beacon of quality higher education for all.

In 2002, MANCOSA was accredited by the Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC), an esteemed quality committee under the Council on Higher Education (CHE). Today, MANCOSA is a prominent provider of 57 accredited programmes.

"MANCOSA has always been one of the leading voices in South African distance education," says Goga, “higher education globally is at a key inflexion point. How do institutions marry traditional teaching models while incorporating technology? What impact will this have on teaching, and how do these institutions ensure they adhere to high-quality standards? These are key issues that need to be discussed," says Goga.

He adds that MANCOSA is committed to leading this debate through national dialogue and platforms such as the Dr Mahomed "Chota" Motala Memorial Lecture. "The boxing legend Muhammad Ali once said that the man who views the world at 50 the same as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life. We must reflect on our past but cannot be fixated on it. We must remember it, pay homage to it, learn from it, and then look ahead to the future. This is why the lecture is an important platform and is very dear to MANCOSA," says Goga.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead to the lecture's future, Goga points out that the values of both Dr Motala and Prof Karodia will be highlighted. 

"Dr Motala and Prof Karodia were figures who offered hope in a very uncertain world. The values of equality and championing the rights of marginalised sectors of society will always be a feature. It will be interesting to see how technology is reflected in future lectures, particularly given that while tech will influence the education landscape, it can widen inequality gaps if not managed responsibly," says Goga. DM