Wednesday, 10 December 2025

Barney Mokgatle Fought For Equal Education Till The End

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Mokgatle continues the ’76 struggle

ALEXANDRA – The president of the Barney Mokgatle Foundation urges that the spirit and blood of '76 students shouldn't go in vain.

ALEX NEWS

November 28, 2019

Leseho Manala 2 minutes read

Barney Mokgatle, president of Barney Mokgatle Foundation. Photo: Leseho Manala

A leader of the iconic 1976 Soweto students’ uprising which contributed to the demise of apartheid still continues the struggle of that time as he fights for quality education for the youth.

Barney Mokgatle, now of portly manner, was, together with Tsietsi Mashinini and Selby Semela, the face of the students’ struggle which, along with others, galvanised the global community to befriend that moment.

Mokgatle said he continues the struggle as a crusade for free and equal opportunity in access to quality education, particularly for poor children. “Like other children, they are our potential future presidents, engineers and doctors whose stations in life shouldn’t be defined by their circumstances,” Mokgatle said in a wide-ranging interview with Alex News about the Barney Mokgatle Foundation, which started in 2015.

Dr Knak Primary School schoolchildren in Alex are a potential resource for national development. *Photo: Leseho Manala*

Born in Alexandra, Mokgatle was like most students then – caught up in student politics and a struggle against apartheid whose final demise derived from the 1994 democratic elections. Luckily, he survived the bullets which moored many of his compatriots during the protest which kicked off at the now-iconic Morris Issacson Secondary School, Soweto where he attended while living in the area with an aunt.

Mokhatle said the spirit and bloodshed by his compatriots shouldn’t be in vain. “Education should still be a mission and pursuit of society given the deeply rooted and continuing poverty which still haunts many poor children.

“We ought to continue the struggle to its finality albeit in a different era through a social compact of all stakeholders in partnership with government.”

He explained that the foundation relies on donations to support needy schools including in Alexandra. “Government can not alone carry the enormity of this struggle.”

He traverses the breadth of the country to determine the support needed. “Many children and teachers still operate under abominable conditions and all of us should strive to improve poor schools in order to guarantee the children access to quality education regardless of circumstances.

“Like others, these children have the intellect to imbibe and later, apply quality education to their lives and for the country’s benefit.”

Mokgatle urged for education not to be politicised but to remain a social issue driving economic development of the nation which poor children should also have an opportunity to contribute to. “More so during the Fourth Industrial Revolution which is premised on science and information technology.”

He said particularly the rural and some township schools should not lag behind in facilities that are relative to current trends in teaching and learning. He asked for resources and donations of teaching aids, learning material and also improvements to facilities like laboratories.

Mokgatle added that the foundation also supports the use of recreational and sporting facilities by children not academically inclined. “The world and country require beyond scientists.

“Besides the others who should also use them for their general physical wellness, those with sporting talent should be assisted to exploit their natural gifts as professions to help them exit poverty and also be the country’s ambassadors.

He regards the foundation as a vehicle for companies and individuals keen to ensure access to quality of education for the African child in his or her own setting. “Conditions should be improved where they are so that they can feel an obligation to plough back later.”

He urged donors to also contribute to the development of teachers. “They require motivation and encouragement to be innovative.

“In the process, the companies benefit from tax rebates for their good corporate social citizenship.”

For Mokgatle, achieving the mission is a must which will also appease the spirit and blood laid down by his 1976 compatriots.

SOURCE: ALEX NEWS

LINK: https://www.citizen.co.za/alex-news/news-headlines/2019/11/28/mokgatle-continues-the-76-struggle/

TOWARDS 50 YEARS SINCE 1976 SOWETO UPRISINGS

Barney Mokgatle: Remembering the true son of the soil

Veterans of the youth struggle reflect on Mokgatle’s lifelong commitment to black consciousness and liberation.

Barney Mokgatle: The true son of the soil

Black consciousness movement stalwarts paid tribute to one of the 1976 Soweto students uprisings leaders, Barney Mokgatle, 73, who died recently without fanfare or publicity befitting of a leader who led one of the historic phases of the antiapartheid struggle.

The funeral was held at Bapong, the rural home of Mokgatle, on Sunday, after his death on 12 November.

Remembering the last of the Soweto trio

He was the last surviving leader of the Soweto trio who included Tsietsi Mashinini and Khotso Seathlolo.

Azanian People’s Organisation president Nelvis Qekema and General Hlomani Mabasa were among those who delivered eulogies.

Thabo Ndabeni, a 1976 stalwart, said Mokgatle played a critical role as part of the core leadership, which spearheaded the student uprising.

Proposed apartheid prosecution bill described as ‘devious’ and vague

“At a particular point he had to also leave the country, to be with Mashinini.

“In exile, he was charged with the responsibility of driving the international campaign to raise awareness on the Soweto 11, who were charged with sedition and terrorism for leading the 1976 uprising.

“His dedication and commitment to the struggle to usher in a just and equitable society is unquestionable,” Ndabeni said.

Exile, training and revolutionary commitment

Mokgatle was among the first members of the SA Youth Revolutionary Council to receive military training, which he did in Lebanon and Syria in the Middle East.

Economic and development strategist Landiwe Mahlangu, a former black consciousness activist who expressed shock and sadness at Mokgatle’s death, said together with Sethlolo and Mashinini, Mokgatle led the student protests that shook the apartheid machinery to its core and reverberated around the world.

ALSO READ: Mokgatle continues the ’76 struggle

“June 16 was a defining moment for the struggle against apartheid and will forever be etched in history as the beginning of the end of apartheid.

“It also represented a revolutionary epoch, as students led the charge under the ideological orientation of black consciousness.

“The fact that at the time Barney and his comrades were merely high school students simply demonstrates the level of political and revolutionary maturity they have attained.

“Rooted in the philosophy of black consciousness, they were resolute in their quest for black power, unshaken in their belief of attaining an egalitarian and socialist society, fearless in their prosecution of the liberation struggle and undeterred by exile,” Mahlangu said.

Mokgatle’s unfinished mission

Mokgatle was passionate about education and before his death, he was on the verge of completing his memoir, which he wanted to be serialised and taught at schools, Mahlangu added.

Mokgatle died without fulfilling his mission to ensure that the 50th anniversary of the 16 June uprising next year would rekindle and reset the black people’s quest.

Black students still face challenges and endure academic disruptions, exclusions and lack of funding in the tertiary institutions, while their parents still face poverty, unemployment and marginalisation.

The land, the economy and power were still firmly in the hands of white capital – a situation enabled by the “captured and compradorial elite”, while the current government has been effectively seduced and assimilated into the neoliberal consensus, Mahlangu said.

“As black people collectively dip their banner and salute this son of the soil, they need to commit to completing his work.

“Mokgatle had unashamedly believed in the philosophy of black consciousness, was consistent in the building of the movement of Bantu Biko, Mapetla Mohapi, Poppie Buthelezi and many more,” said Mahlangu.

SOURCE: The Citizen

LINK: https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/barney-mokgatle-remembering-the-true-son-of-the-soil/

STRUGGLE FOR EQUAL EDUCATION CONTINUES

The Class Of 1976 – Soweto Uprising

FORBES AFRICA

Published 7 years ago

Motlabana Monnakgotla

The school children who took part in the ‘Soweto Uprising’ protests – sometimes you still hear their singing and chanting.

It’s not often I find myself driving past the Hector Pieterson Memorial and Museum in Orlando West, in Soweto, an urban township in Johannesburg.

But come June every year, I inevitably steer my car to the site, mentally revisiting the carnage that happened here in 1976; the student protest and the police firing that led to an iconic photograph the world came to associate with South Africa’s brutal apartheid regime.

Two years ago, one of my assignments with FORBES AFRICA was to pursue a story on the ‘Soweto Uprising’. Thankfully, the museum gave me three vital leads to reconstruct the events of June 16, a day etched in blood in South African history.

It was a Tuesday when I met my first contact, Oupa Moloto, who then was a student at the Morris Isaacson High School in Soweto where it all started.

“On the day of the event, the school started a little earlier; the mood was different, the students were excited but the teachers couldn’t pick it up,” recalled Moloto of the first stirrings of the protest against the mandatory use of Afrikaans as a language of instruction in black secondary schools.

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After the interview, I visited the school and walking around, could sense around me the nervous excitement of the students like it was 42 years ago. I could hear their voices, singing and chanting as we stood where the last assembly was held, before the shots were fired at them.

I photographed Moloto at their then assembly point and his face was a picture of sorrow. The school has been renovated since but in the older building, are still some vestiges of that time – broken windows and furniture.

A few weeks later, I met with Barney Mokgatle at his home in Alexandra, another township. He was one of the students who went into exile after the tragic march.

“The police were hunting for us, we could not sleep in one place for two nights because there were people selling us out,” said Mokgatle.

Mokgatle was the right hand man to Tsietsi Mashinini who led the march and later died in exile.
He talked me through every detail; he also said Pieterson was not the first student shot at the march.

Perhaps more intriguing was his recounting of their escape and journey to Botswana through the bushes without fear of the wilderness, with their other friend Selby Semela.

He started singing, the masculine man had a voice of the angels; it was remarkable. As soon as the humming started, I almost shed a tear, I could feel their struggle and strength as they dodged bullets and teargas in the Soweto streets wearing blazers and ties, some running with missing shoes.

But at that moment, they were crossing serene bushes unaware of the hungry beasts around them lurking in the dark all the way to the borders of Botswana.

A few days later, we met again for a shoot where a statue of his friend Mashinini was erected not far from the Morris Isaacson school. He didn’t come to Soweto often but when he saw the statue, he paused, staring at it. He finally turned and we continued walking to a wall where he showed me a collage of his two friends and himself.

The story wouldn’t be complete without speaking to the ‘girl’ in the iconic photograph of Pieterson taken by Sam Nzima. Antoinette Pieterson, the older sister, who is 58 today.

“I saw Mbuyisa [Makhubu, the boy carrying Pieterson in the famous photograph] coming from nowhere; I didn’t know him at the time. He was running towards me, he passed me. I saw he was carrying a person and I could recognize Pieterson’s shoe, I ran with him,” she recounted.

Today, as I walk the streets of Orlando, I think of the privilege I enjoyed of choosing between either isiZulu or Afrikaans as a second language in school.

Thanks to the class of 1976, we had the freedom.

SOURCE: FORBES AFRICA

LINK: https://www.forbesafrica.com/sometime-in-africa/2018/06/25/the-class-of-1976-soweto-uprising

“Education is one thing no one can take away from you.” —Elin Nordegren

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Call for Applications: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
at the University of the Western Cape - Academic Year 2026

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) is an implementing partner of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. Initiated in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative designed to develop the next generation of transformative leaders by enabling highly talented, service-oriented young people, primarily young Africans, to pursue their higher education and cultivate their leadership potential.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is specifically targeted towards young people whose access to higher education is impeded by economic and social barriers. The Program places a particular emphasis on reaching young women, refugees and forcibly displaced youth, and persons with disabilities, who are encouraged to apply.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC supports academically talented youth from South Africa and other parts of the African continent. The aim of the Program is to equip youth with the necessary tools and education to drive transformative change which will positively impact their communities and countries. For the 2026 academic year, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC will provide fully-funded opportunities for young scholars to study for i) undergraduate qualifications or ii) master’s degree qualifications.

Applications are restricted to the following disciplines/fields of study:

GENERAL CONDITIONS OF AWARD

In addition to providing support for tuition fees, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC provides a range of specialised resources to support Mastercard Foundation Scholars to facilitate their transition into dignified and fulfilling work. In particular, Mastercard Foundation Scholars will be provided with:

o Pre-arrival support and an official on-boarding welcome programme;
o Housing in a UWC residence on campus;
o Personalised support throughout their studies, ensuring that every Mastercard Foundation Scholar has the best possible experience at UWC;
o A monthly stipend and meal allowance;
o Medical aid;
o Laptop;
o Study materials allowance; and
o Holistic wrap around support programmes.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars are required to sign a scholarship agreement once they are accepted and enrolled onto the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars are expected to meet the required academic standards of the University to retain their scholarships.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UWC provides support to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars for the duration of their registered qualification at the University.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars are expected to comply with the rules and regulations of the University of the Western Cape as stipulated in the University calendar.

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SOURCE: UWC

LINK: https://www.uwc.ac.za/study/partnerships/mastercard-foundation-scholars-program

Tuesday, 9 December 2025

“Education is the vaccine of violence.” —Edward James Olmos

Photo by Pan African Youth

Pan African University Call for Scholarships Applications Academic Year 2026-2027

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November 15, 2025

The Pan African University (PAU) is an initiative of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union. It is a Premier continental university network whose mission is to provide quality postgraduate education geared towards the achievement of a prosperous, integrated and peaceful Africa.

From 2014 to date, PAU issued 2549 certificates. This involves 856 females and 1693 males from 50 Members States.

Young, qualified, talented, and enterprising applicants from African countries and the Diaspora are invited to apply to join master’s or PhD degree programmes at any of the following four PAU institutes listed below.

Youths with potential and motivation who desire to play transformative leadership roles as academics, professionals, industrialists, innovators, and entrepreneurs are particularly encouraged to apply.

Admission Requirements for master’s Programmes *

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

Not older than 25 years for male and 28 years for female applicants.
Holder of an Undergraduate degree from a recognised university, with at least a second-class upper division or its equivalent, in a relevant field.
Certified true copies of relevant certificates, transcripts (from university and high school).
Passport or National I.D. card (personal details page).
Clear coloured passport size photograph (2cmx2cm).
Detailed CV.
Recommendation letter from ONE of his/her former University lecturers.
Names of 3 Reference University lecturers (with email address and WhatsApp number) ;(Mandatory)

*Candidates may be required to undergo a written/oral examination after pre- selection.

Candidates for the Master in Conference Interpreting and Translation programmes are required to have excellent knowledge of at least two of the African Union’s official languages (Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Kiswahili and Spanish).

Academic Competence must be evidenced in academic transcripts at the bachelors' level.

Admission Requirements for the Doctoral (PhD) Programme

Candidates must meet the following requirements:

Maximum 28 years old for male and 30 years old for female applicants.
A master’s degree in a relevant field from PAU or any internationally recognised university.
Certified copies of relevant certificates and transcripts,
Passport or National I.D. card (biometric/ personal details page).
Clear coloured passport size photograph (2cmx2cm).
Detailed CV.
Recommendation letters from 2 Professors.
A 3 to 4-page Research Concept Note (tentative title, research questions, objectives, significance of the research, etc.).
Names of 3 Reference University lecturers (with email address and WhatsApp number); (Mandatory.)

The African Union Commission will offer full scholarships to successful candidates.

Application Procedure

Applications should be completed online at https://www.au-pau.org/submission/

The Call will be launched on 15 November and will close on 15 December 2025.

Applications received after this deadline will NOT be considered.

Further enquiries can be made through:

pau.scholarships@africa-union.org /student.panafrican@gmail.com

SOURCE: AFRICAN UNION

LINK: https://au.int/en/announcements/20251115/pan-african-university-call-scholarships-applications-academic-year-2026-2027

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.” ― Henry Ford

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'MADE IN AFRICA', AFRICAN YOUTH INNOVATION & BILLIONS IN TRADE

South African Companies - Photo by centralnews.co.za

AU Showcases Youth Innovation and ‘Made in Africa’ Products from African Women in Processing as IATF2025 Concludes with $48.3 Billion in Trade Deals

The fourth Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025), hosted in Algiers, Algeria, concluded on 10 September 2025 with resounding success, recording US$48.3 billion in trade and investment deals signed during the weeklong continental exposition. The Fair, which ran from 4th–10th September, attracted more than 112,000 visitors (both physical and virtual) from 132 countries, and welcomed 958 buyers. The IATF 2025 was organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with the African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.

In his address, the host, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune and other dignitaries, featured a high-level summit-style dialogue that brought together 14 Heads of State and Government, 6 government representatives, and 41 ministers and deputy ministers. President Tebboune welcomed delegates to Algeria, the host the 2025 IATF edition. He underscored the importance of boosting intra-African trade using the IATF as a catalytic tool. He lamented the low level of Africa’s share in global trade which currently stands at less than 3%, despite possessing 30% of the world’s natural resources. President Tebboune urged member states to address the continent’s infrastructure challenges, and to recognise the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a game changer for the continent. He urged the African private sector and governments to invest inrail, fibre optic, rail and airlink, and reform the global financial architecture. Held biennially, IATF provides a platform for African and international businesses to showcase goods and services, exchange knowledge, and explore trade and investment opportunities.

According to the IATF2025 Report Card the event hosted 2,148 exhibitors and featured major activities, including country and business trade exhibitions, a four-day Trade and Investment Forum with leading African and international speakers, the African Youth Start-up, Creative Africa Nexus (CANEX) programme with its own exhibition dedicated to fashion, music, film, arts and crafts, sports, literature, and gastronomy, as well as the Africa Automotive Show.

In her remarks at the continental trade fair, the AU Deputy Chairperson, Selma Haddadi urged leaders to commit to raising intra-African trade, which still accounts for only 15% of the continent’s total trade. She emphasised the need for reforms to international trade rules to create space for Africa’s industrial policies, the harmonisation of regulations, standards, and payment systems, deeper regional integration, and stronger measures to empower women and youth as central actors in driving trade and industrialisation. She also underscored the fair's role in advancing innovation, value addition, and industrialization to move Africa beyond being merely a supplier of raw materials.

“Africa cannot achieve its aspirations if we continue trading more with the outside world than with ourselves. We must change the rules, harmonise our systems, and create an enabling environment where women and young people can thrive as the real engines of our continental market.” said the AU Deputy Chairperson at the IATF 2025.

The AU Pavilion at the IATF Exibition

The African Union Pavilion at the IATF , themed “Made in Africa – A Mark of Origin, a Symbol of Dignity and Pride”, presented Africa’s development agenda as set out in Agenda 2063. It highlighted flagship projects and long-term priorities while also serving as a platform for 63 youth-led start-ups and more than 40 African Women involved in Processing. The Pavilion welcomed over 100,000 visitors during the week, becoming a vibrant hub for innovation and entrepreneurship and underlining the creativity, resilience, and business potential driving Africa’s trade and growth.

The Pavilion drew wide interest and was visited by high-level dignitaries and partners, including: Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, Ouadah Nour Eddine, Minister of Knowledge Economy, Startups and Micro Enterprises of Algeria, The Minister of Trade and Export Promotion Tayeb Zitouni of Algeria, Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President and Dr. Benedict Oramah,President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and IATF2025 Advisory Council Chair Ahunna Eziakonwa, Assistant Secretary-General, UNDP and Director, Regional Bureau for Africa, Daren Tang, Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Nardos Bekele-Thomas, Chief Executive Officer, AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and Dr. Amany Asfour, President, Africa Business Council (AfBC) , among others.

AU Youth-UP’s Highlights

The Pitch Competition at the AU Pavilion began with a practical workshop on “Crafting the Perfect Pitch” delivered by the Google Hustle Academy. This was followed by a high-energy contest where 12 youth-led innovators and founderswent head-to-head, each delivering five-minute pitches before a distinguished jury of experts from Afreximbank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), Algeria Venture, Google Hustle Academy, and UNDP Timbuktoo.

Three (3) outstanding entrepreneurs emerged as winners:

Adam (Quareeb, Algeria) – a tech start-up specialising in embedded systems and AI, providing tailor-made solutions to meet client needs.
Sarah (Talktü, Nigeria) – an on-demand, AI-powered speech platform transforming communication access.
Stephen (General Biotech, Cameroon) – a biotech venture developing solar-powered neonatal incubators with AI monitoring to reduce Africa’s high neonatal mortality rates.

Following the competition, General Biotech signed an MoU with SPA Condor (Algeria) to produce and distribute solar-powered baby incubators across Africa and beyond demonstrating how innovative youth-led solutions can be scaled to meet urgent health needs.

Another key innovation highlight at IATF2025 was the Healthcare Hackathon, organised by Afrilabs in partnership with Afreximbank. Two health-tech founders from the AU Youth Startup Programme (AUYSP) teamed up and won the grand prize of US$10,000. Their success illustrated the AUYSP’s purpose to identify talented young founders, equip them with practical coaching and networks, and position them to compete and thrive on continental stages.

Speaking at the competition, Mrs. Ron Osman Omar, Director of Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship & Tourism (IMET) said, “This competition has spotlighted the creativity and problem-solving spirit of Africa’s next generation of innovators. It has reinforced the central role that youth-driven enterprises play in shaping the future of trade and development across our continent. Young entrepreneurs are the engine of Africa’s future. At IMET, we are proud to support startups that turn bold ideas into real solutions creating jobs, driving innovation, and building the Africa we want.”

The competition forms part of ongoing efforts to empower Africa’s youth in line with Agenda 2063, ensuring that innovation and enterprise remain central to Africa’s transformation agenda.

Africa Women in Procession (AWIP) Highlights

The Africa Women in Processing (AWIP) programme highlighted the dynamism of women entrepreneurs across key growth sectors agro-processing, the creative industry, fashion, and technology. AWIP activities showcased how women-led enterprises are adding value to raw materials, shaping Africa’s cultural economy, and driving innovation in both traditional and emerging industries.

A major feature was the training on compliance with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) requirements, which equipped participants with the skills to align with international standards and expand access to regional and global markets. Through exhibitions, workshops, and networking sessions, AWIP provided a powerful platform for women to connect with buyers, investors, and policymakers, while reaffirming their role as trailblazers in Africa’s industrialisation and trade transformation.

A key highlight was the launch of the joint AUC–AfCFTA Secretariat report, “The Impact of the IATF on Development and Trade 2018-2024,” presented with the participation of Dr. Patrick Olomo, Ag Director of ETTIM. The report underscored IATF’s growing influence in shaping Africa’s trade and development landscape. The three editions of IATF put together facilitated over 1,000 trade and investment deals valued at a cumulative US$118 billion. As of December 2024, US$41 billion of these deals have been disbursed and executed, averaging US$13.67 billion in executed deals per event. By connecting buyers and sellers, showcasing African goods and services, and facilitating business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) exchanges, the IATF has generated billions in trade and investment deals, empowered SMEs and entrepreneurs, supported industrialization, and spurred overall economic growth across the continent.

An intergenerational dialogue engaged young innovators, policymakers, and ecosystem leaders in exploring how the AfCFTA, digital infrastructure, and regional collaboration can unlock Africa’s innovation economy. The Pavilion also spotlighted the upcoming Africa Start-Up Conference, amplifying visibility for Africa’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally,two technical sessions were organized. One on Quality Management System (QMS) Standards for the Automotive Sector stressed the role of robust standards in boosting competitiveness, ensuring safety, and driving growth across Africa’s auto industry. Another on the role of standards in research and innovation management highlighted the need to include standards in all product development to ensure their successful integration to global markets and to promote structured public–private partnerships to turn research into market-ready solutions.

As Africa prepares for the next edition of IATF 2027 in Lagos Nigeria, the African Union will continue to use the platform to promote Agenda 2063, support youth and women entrepreneurs, and drive forward the vision of a united, integrated, and prosperous Africa.

For further information, please contact:

Faith Adhiambo | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail ochiengj@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia