Notes

Professor Thuli Madonsela is rightly described as a 'National Treasure'. Having recently celebrated her milestone 60th birthday she decided to raise money through the auction of a recently completed oil painting of her by celebrated South African artist, Shany van den Berg.

Professor Thuli Madonsela is the Law Trust Chair in Social Justice and Law Professor at Stellenbosch University where she conducts and coordinates social justice research and teaches constitutional and administrative law. She is also the founder of the Thuma Foundation, an independent democracy leadership and literacy social enterprise. An Advocate of the High Court of South Africa and former Public Protector of South Africa, Madonsela has been a lifelong activist on social justice, constitutionalism, human rights, good governance and the rule of law. Named one of TIME100’s most influential people in the world in 2014, and Forbes Africa Person of the Year in 2016, Professor Madonsela is one of the drafters of South Africa’s Constitution and co-architect of several laws that have sought to anchor South Africa’s democracy. The proceeds of the auction will go to Stellenbosch University’s #Action4Inclusion initiative launched in 2020. These funds are used to support students who cannot register for the next academic year owing to outstanding fees, as well as graduates who cannot access their academic records upon graduation, thereby hampering their capacity to contribute to a talented workforce.

Reflecting on turning 60, Madonsela said she is grateful for reaching this milestone. “I am honoured to be a co-founder of the #Action4Inclusion initiative with young Matie leaders. The purpose of #Action4Inclusion is to help young people achieve their potential so that they have the same opportunity I have been blessed with to be able to serve society at my fullest potential. Many have graduated because of this initiative and are now contributing meaningfully to our society, our environment, and the world.

“I call upon you to play your part to support this student debt relief initiative and other social justice advancing measures as an Ubuntu gesture and contribution to the constitutional commitment to establish a new society that is based on social justice, as one of three pillars. Thank you for serving as bridges of hope,”