Monash University awards Honourary Doctorate to Manne Dipico

15 February 2010

From the left: Prof Edward Byrne, Vice Chancellor and President, Monash University; Dr Manne Dipico, Chairman Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA; Dr Alan Finkel, Chancellor, Monash University; Prof Tyrone Pretorius, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Monash South Africa.

At its annual graduation ceremony on Saturday 13 February at the Sandton Convention Centre, Monash University awarded an Honourary Doctorate to Manne Dipico, Chairman of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa. Dr Dipico is also Chairman of Ponhalo Capital (De Beers Group) and Deputy Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited.

During his address, Dr Dipico said that to be honoured by such a prestigious international university had special significance to him and that he accepted the award with humility.

He said: “I accept this award on behalf of the people of the Northern Cape Province who gave me the opportunity to serve them for 10 years as Premier and in doing so elevated me to this stage where Monash may recognise me. I know that Monash University is not recognising my individual talents, but rather is honouring the remarkable journey which has been, and continues to be, undertaken by the South African nation.”

He congratulated all the graduating students on their determination to succeed and he asked them, now that they have the benefit of a formal education and freedom of choice, to consider choosing to serve others and to pursue a course of action that serves Africa.

He said: “The cause my generation faced was to ensure freedom. Your generation is entrusted with the responsibility of giving meaning and dignity to that freedom. I urge you to do so by making your contribution to addressing the great and many challenges that we face in Africa.”

Background information on Dr Manne Dipico

Manne Dipico was born in Kimberley in 1959. After matriculating at St Boniface High School, he joined Finsch Mines but was dismissed after taking part in the organisation of a miners’ strike. He later studied at the University of Fort Hare in 1984 where he quickly emerged as one of the leading political figures on campus and in the Border region of the United Democratic Front. His time at Fort Hare was interrupted with bans and detentions and ended with his expulsion from the university.

He joined the National Union of Mine workers first as its regional organiser and subsequently as national education officer. He returned to Finsch Mines as an official representative of the workers and helped establish the National Union of Mineworkers in the Kimberley area. He was a leading political figure in the area and was arrested in 1987 together with other MK operatives and sentenced to a five-year prison term, which was spent in part on Robben Island as well as in Pollsmoor and Johannesburg Prisons.

Dipico became leader and Chairperson of the African National Congress after the organisation was unbanned in 1990, and then became the first Premier of the newly established Northern Cape Province after the 1994 elections.

As Premier he fostered extensive engagements and shared perspectives with many major entities including De Beers and BHP Billiton, which he understood to be integral to - and key partners in – the economic and political development of the Northern Cape Province. In these enterprises he was so successful that his qualities of leadership were recognised by, among others the national conferences of the ANC which elected him to the National Executive Committee and as the National Elections Manager from 2003. He also served on the National Working Committee of the ANC.

After serving two terms as Premier, Dipico was appointed to serve as the Parliamentary Counsellor of the President and as a member of the National Assembly.