By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to South Africa’s first democratic minister of education, Sibusiso Bhengu, who died this week in his sleep at the age of 90.
In his statement, Ramaphosa extended condolences to Bhengu’s family, particularly his wife Mama Funeka, and praised his transformative contributions to the nation.
“My thoughts are with Mama Funeka and the family with whom we are united in this loss,” said Ramaphosa.
Bhengu is remembered for his leadership in advancing the transformation of South Africa’s education system during the early years of democracy.
Under his guidance, the Education Act was formulated and adopted by the country’s first democratic Parliament, a landmark step in dismantling the apartheid-era educational system that had entrenched inequality and exclusion, he said.
Moreover, Ramaphosa highlighted the significance of Bhengu’s work, saying, “Under apartheid, the injustice of unequal education had been at the core of consigning most citizens to intergenerational economic exclusion, poverty and indignity.”
He continued: “The Education Act formulated under Prof Bhengu’s leadership and adopted by our fledgling Parliament was a cornerstone of our liberation and unleashed the human potential of all South Africans. It was and is still the lever for the empowerment and development we see today in the lives of individuals and communities.”
In addition to his domestic achievements, Ramaphosa said Bhengu served as South Africa’s Ambassador to Germany from 1999 to 2003.
His legacy is further solidified through the Sibusiso Bhengu Development Programme, which aims to strengthen historically disadvantaged institutions in higher education, said Ramaphosa.
“We are therefore indebted to Prof Bhengu for his patriotic and visionary service in serving our nation at home and abroad as our Ambassador to Germany,” said Ramaphosa.
Born in Kranskop, Natal, Prof Bengu embarked on his teaching career in 1952, later founding Dlangezwa High School in 1969, where he served as principal until 1976.
His leadership extended to the University of Zululand, where he became Dean of Students before leaving South Africa in 1978. His academic achievements were groundbreaking, earning a PhD in Political Sciences from the University of Geneva and becoming the first black Vice-Chancellor of Fort Hare University in 1991, marking a pivotal moment in higher education reform.
In 1994, Prof Bengu was appointed by President Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s first Minister of Education in the democratic era.
He spearheaded the unification of 17 fragmented education departments into a single system, introduced Curriculum 2005 to overhaul the school curriculum, and worked tirelessly to dismantle the structural inequalities of apartheid education.
Following his impactful tenure, he represented South Africa as Ambassador to Germany, showcasing his dedication to upholding the nation’s dignity on the global stage.
Prof Bhengu’s political journey began as Secretary-General of Inkatha yeNkuleleko yeSizwe in 1974.
After leaving South Africa in 1978, he collaborated with the late ANC President, Oliver Tambo, during his years in exile.
While working with the Lutheran World Federation in Geneva, he continued his commitment to justice and equality. Upon his return to South Africa in 1991, Prof Bengu resumed his lifelong dedication to education and liberation, leaving a legacy of transformative leadership and unwavering service to the nation.