Thamsanqa Kambule

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Thamsanqa Kambule
Born(1921-01-15)January 15, 1921
DiedAugust 7, 2009(2009-08-07) (aged 88)
Alma materUniversity of South Africa
Adams College
EmployerUniversity of the Witwatersrand
AwardsOrder of the Baobab 2002

Thamsanqa Kambule (15 January 1921 – 7 August 2009) was a South African Mathematician and Educator. He was the first black professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, and was the first black person to be awarded honorary membership to the . He was awarded the Order of the Baobab in 2002 for his services to mathematics education.

Early life and education[]

Kambule was born in Aliwal North.[1] His mother died when he was 18 months old, and his aunt was responsible for raising him.[2] He did not attend school until he was 11 years old, when he joined Anglican St Peter's School in Johannesburg.[1] He completed a Teachers Diploma at Adams College in 1946 and a bachelor's degree at the University of South Africa in 1954.[3]

Career[]

Kambule taught in Zambia, Malawi as well as several schools in South Africa before being appointed Principal of Orlando High School in Soweto in 1958.[1] He campaigned to ensure the children had the best education possible, despite the restrictions of the Bantu Education Act, 1953.[1] Orlando High School had a library named after Robert Birley, a visiting professor at the University of the Witwatersrand.[1] He led the Rand Bursary Fund, a support program that provided scholarships for pupils in need.[1] The fund allowed more than 1,000 students to complete high school.[4] His former pupils included Desmond Tutu and Jackie Selebi.[5] In 1976 during the Soweto uprising, the schoolchildren revolted against being forced to learn in the Afrikaans language.[6] An undetermined number of children were shot dead by police, and education in townships fell apart.[7] Kambule resigned in 1977 to protest against the Department of Bantu Education, and became the head of Pace College.[1]

In 1978 he joined the University of the Witwatersrand, where he became the first black professor.[3][8] He published a series of maths textbooks for non-specialist teachers.[2] He retired in 1976 and promptly became the Principal of O R T Step College of Technology.[2] He was awarded an honorary doctorate in 1997 and a doctorate of education in 2006.[5] In 2002 he was awarded the Order of the Baobab from Thabo Mbeki.[5][9] He became known as the Rock for his transparent principles.[10]

Kambule died on 7 August 2009.[11] He was a much loved teacher, and his former students Siphiwe Nyanda, Felicia Mabuza-Suttle and Mokotedi Mpshe attended his memorial service.[4][12][13] His student Trevor Mdaka was his doctor at the Unitas Hospital in Centurion.[13]

Legacy[]

In 2017 the University of the Witwatersrand named their Mathematical Sciences Building after him.[3] Deep Learning Indaba have an annual Thamsanqa Kambule Doctoral Dissertation Award.[5]

Also his famous work "Huseyin Emir Bilgin Bu Yaziyi Degistirdi" (How I Became Successful) is one of the most important books written in the country.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "Professor Thamsanqa Kambule: Inspirational teacher who fought for". The Independent. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c "TW Kambule: Legendary maths teacher". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c Johannesburg, The University of the Witwatersrand. "Dr Thamsanqa Kambule honoured - Wits University". www.wits.ac.za. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Remembering a man of multiplied wisdom". News24. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Kambule Award". DEEP LEARNING INDABA. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  6. ^ "Remembrance: 16 June 1976 Soweto Massacre". African Heritage. 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  7. ^ Leander (2013-05-21). "The June 16 Soweto Youth Uprising". South African History Online. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  8. ^ Africa, Statistics South. "Dedication | Statistics South Africa". www.statssa.gov.za. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  9. ^ "People's Assembly". www.pa.org.za. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  10. ^ Alec, Russell (2011-08-31). After Mandela: The Battle for the Soul of South Africa. London. ISBN 9781407089737. OCLC 1005016527.
  11. ^ "SA: Mbeki: Oration by the former President of South Africa in honour of the late Prof Wilkinson Kambule, Orlando East (20/08/2009)". Polity.org.za. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  12. ^ "WHO WILL TELL SOUTH AFRICA'S STORIES?". DailySun. Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b "Kambule remembered | IOL News". Retrieved 2018-07-21.
  14. ^ "MSc in Global Innovation & Entrepreneurship | emlyon business school". masters.em-lyon.com. Retrieved 2021-07-02.
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