Inauguration of Beyers Naudé Chair at Monash South Africa

October 2008

At the Inauguration of the Beyers Naude Chair at Monash South Africa, from the left: Mr Johann Naude(son of Beyers Naude), Professor Ian Edwards, MSA, Mr Mewa Ramgobin and in the front Mrs Ilse Naude (widow of Beyers Naude).

The inaugural lecture of Professor Iain Edwards as the Beyers Naudé Professor in Humanities "Beyers Naude: History, Memory and Politics” took place at Monash South Africa recently.

“The Beyers Naudé Chair in Humanities has been established to sustain and develop the overall vision and commitment to human values which was so much a hallmark of Beyers Naudé’s remarkable life journey,” says Prof Iain Edwards

“For South Africans, the anti-Apartheid struggle is the crucible in which the commitment, courage and leadership of a group of remarkable and world-renowned leaders was forged.

“Beyers Naudé was South Africa’s foremost anti-apartheid Afrikaner public theologian. His life story is that of the power of moral and spiritual conviction and the consequences of a social conscience and the struggle for social justice.

“As South Africa moves away from its apartheid legacy, and democracy is deepened elsewhere in Africa, it is critically important that people such as Beyers Naudé be honoured and that the ideals, principles and goals which he stood for be promoted and developed,” says Prof Edwards.

“Beyers Naudé is honoured at many South African and international universities. In establishing the Chair, Monash South Africa is mindful of the hugely significant role which Beyers Naude played in the struggle against apartheid as well as his concerns for social justice worldwide.”

Prof Dina Burger, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor: Research, at Monash South Africa, says that, “From an institutional perspective, Monash South Africa has deliberately set out to become a public-purpose university producing graduates who are not only given a sound academic education, but who are also aware of the wider social concerns and their responsibilities as future leaders. As part of this overall vision, Monash seeks to establish positions at the highest academic level in order to provide our undergraduate and postgraduate students with intellectual leadership and role models. The founding of the Beyers Naude Professorial Chair plays a central role in this overall vision and commitment.”

When giving permission to establish such a Chair at Monash South Africa, Mrs Ilse Naudé re-affirmed the need for Beyers Naudé’s life to be honoured not just in name, but more importantly, in deed and in the furtherance of his legacy. The focus of the work of the Beyers Naudé Professor will, therefore, be on leadership, ethics and social justice.

The founding project of the Chair is to research and write a full-length scholarly biography of Beyers Naudé. This will be undertaken in ways which establish scholarly and professional links between the many national and international tertiary and other institutions having historical associations with Beyers Naudé and his life work.

Professor Iain Edwards is a graduate of the University of Natal, whose research and publication interests focus on South African history and politics, biography and oral history.

He has had research fellowships at the University of Oxford and Columbia University, has played a leading role in South African public heritage matters and is currently working with Mewa Ramgobin on publishing his memoirs and private political papers.

“As an institution we are very honoured to be able to advance the important work and legacy of Beyers Naude through the Beyers Naude Chair,” said Professor Dina Burger, Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor: Research at Monash South Africa.