Graduation Speech
Since we started this programme on the 14th of January we have been talking of December
10. The day is now here, and more importantly we are all here to celebrate this day. It has
been a long journey and there is no doubt that this is an intensive course. There is also no
doubt that everyone who is here deserves to be here. We hate to be proud, but for just this
one day we shall hold our heads high and expect your congratulations.
Without taking much time it is, however, important for us to ponder the importance of this
achievement. Africa is the only continent lagging far behind in the world and the question my
colleagues and I have to answer is, what contribution are we going to make to improve
this state of affairs? Are we going to be exasperated by the status quo and believe that we
can contribute no change? What I believe is that, what Africa needs is firstly people who can
differentiate what is right from what is wrong. Having done so, we need people who can
speak about this difference. We then need people who can act upon such differentiation so
as to correct the wrong.
We are privileged to have gone through this programme and the resources that have been
invested in us cannot go to waste. My colleagues and I would like to assure you all that we
are committed and dedicated to contributing to positive change to this continent that we love
so much.
Although this is our day of pride, ladies and gentlemen, we still have to give thanks to those
that have made it possible for us to be proud. Without the Centre for Human Rights and its
partners this LLM would not have been in existence. We thank them so much. The Centre
staff is amazingly dedicated to its work and we have found a second home within them. We
unreservedly thank you.
Of equal importance is the University of Pretoria, whose brand we shall be representing as
holders of this degree. The customer service of the university is unbelievable. We are proud
to be alumni of the university of Pretoria and we shall not fail the brand of the university.
To the numerous lecturers that came from all parts of the globe we are also truly grateful.
We are equally grateful to the administration in the partner universities who in most cases
gave us preferential treatment. Where you have to write a dissertation in record breaking
time – this is essential. Please keep up the good work. This programme can only get better.
We would also like to give tribute to our families who have supported us in this difficult year.
To husbands, wives, fiancées, fiancés, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters; who without
their support and sometimes permission we may not have been here. We thank you so
much and ask you to continue to support us in the careers we are to follow. We need you,
please do not let us down.
As a graduating class it is imperative that we thank each other. It is not easy for people from
different parts of the continent (including our American friend) to come together, live in the
same houses and be expected to get along like best friends. We all came from different
cultures, ethnic groups, languages, races but we were able to look beyond this. We never for
one second tolerated each other because there was no need to. We loved each other. We
supported each other. We understood each other. It was not easy, but it was not impossible.
Thank you guys.
I would also like to thank my co-class representative Sarah Swart. She is an amazing,
intelligent woman who is definitely going places. We were both privileged to be allowed to
lead this class of leaders by the class itself. So on behalf of both us we thank the class for
the opportunity and the Centre for their part in allowing us to do our job without taking any
matters personally.
May I also congratulate all those who have won prizes today. You all deserve them.
Congratulations.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all those who have been there to assist in this
programme, in one way or the other. It is the foot soldiers who win the war yet they go
without any medals. We thank you as well.
So as we leave for our various destinations we reiterate the assurance that we will make our
positive contribution on this continent. We do so not because it is what we have been urged
to do, but because we know it is the right thing to do. Thank You