Glitz and glamour were the order of the night as guests made their way to the celebratory gala dinner in honour of three outstanding leaders who were conferred honorary doctorates by DUT during this month’s (April) Graduation Ceremonies.

The dinner was a means of paying tribute to Lauretta Ngcobo, Bobby Peeks and Ronnie Govender, global leaders in their own right, who have done exceptional work during their lifetimes and have hugely contributed to South Africa’s art and health fields. This has been part of the reasoning behind DUT conferring three honorary doctorates to the three deserving individuals, as well as hosting the honorary gala dinner in their honour.

The dinner took place last night (16 April 2014), at the Coastlands on the Ridge Hotel, Musgrave.

Speaking at the event, DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal; Professor Ahmed Bawa said paying respect to such individuals and hosting such dinners in their honour has become a tradition at DUT. He also spoke of the work that goes into the graduation ceremonies and thanked all staff and volunteers who had made it all possible.

“It is only fitting to pay tribute to such global leaders for their contributions done during the apartheid regime which added to shaping the new democratic South Africa. I want to take this opportunity to applaud them for their achievements and tell them how proud we are of them. They also form bridges between our society and the global society,” he said. Prof Bawa paid tribute to each of the honorary guests, also speaking fondly of how playwright Ronnie Govender had given a voice to the People through sport.

“During the apartheid regime, it was seen as a crime to attend soccer matches as it was seen as a political act. People would pitch up at Curries Fountain to watch, so he was responsible for giving a voice to the dispossessed,” said Prof Bawa.

When he (Prof Bawa) spoke of writer and poet Ngcobo, he thanked her for the role she had played in giving rural women – who were largely marginalized during apartheid – a voice. Ngcobo gave them (rural women) significance as unsung heroes of that (apartheid) era. Last but not least, Prof Bawa added that Peek, an environmentalist, who had been instrumental in bringing people of all races together and had also helped build non-racialism through his activism.

“They all represent DUT and are regarded as the faces of the University (DUT). That’s why we welcome them to our University,” he said.

Each honorary guest was then given a special plaque in remembrance of their conferred honorary doctorates by the University. After tributes were made, guests were treated to a wonderful rendition of Betty Middler’s Wind Beneath My Wings, from 13-year-old songstress Dhenista Chetty. Guests then tucked into a delicious buffet, after which another veteran jazz singer from New York, Sunny Pillay, also best friend of Ronnie Govender, wowed the crowds with his amazing voice. Guests then tucked into the delicious array of desserts, after which most of the guests mingled and enjoyed the night away which commemorated the end of the hard work and dedication of staff and students for the graduation events at DUT.

– Waheeda Peters

Pictured: Renowned South African storyteller, poet and author Gcina Hlope with Ngcobo at the gala dinner.