Chancellor’s Calabash Awards 2025

FORMER President Thabo Mbeki and Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula walked onto the stage of the packed Unisa hall to a warm standing ovation, their presence setting the tone for a night that blended celebration, reflection and a call for renewed national purpose.

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The Chancellor's Calabash Awards returned this week with a fresh sense of urgency, honouring South Africans and continental icons whose work continues to shape public life and strengthen democracy. Mbeki, as Chancellor of the University of South Africa, presided over the ceremony with the calm authority that defined his presidency.

He reminded the audience that the country remained in what he called a general crisis that touched politics, the economy, safety, international relations and the social fabric. He repeated his appeal for an inclusive National Dialogue and commended the commitment of the Finance Ministry to fund that process.

For Mbeki, the call was not simply a political instrument but a national necessity. He emphasised that a future grounded in stability and growth could only emerge from collective engagement.

LenkaBula followed with a keynote address that linked the awards to the university's broader mission.