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Mathatha Tsedu during the graduation ceremony.
News - Date: 22 April 2016
South African National Editor’s Forum (Sanef) executive director Mathatha Tsedu received an honorary doctorate from the University of the Western Cape (UWC) last Friday.
Tsedu, who currently resides in the Vhembe area, is a recipient of a number of awards, including the Nieman Fellowship, the Nat Nakasa Award for Courageous Journalism, The Mondi Shanduka Lifetime Achiever Award, and The SANEF Wrottesley Award. He holds a BA Honours in Journalism and Media Studies from Wits University.
In his acceptance speech during last week’s ceremony at UWC, Tsedu recited Maya Angelou’s poem, Still I rise. He related his own life to the poem, saying “coming from a past rooted in pain and history’s shame, rise to stand here today in a red robe, being honoured in this most venerable way.”
Tsedu’s childhood friend, Reverend Samuel Phupheli, said that the award was appropriate, although it could have been done a lot sooner to recognise Tsedu’s outstanding deeds and to honour him.
Phupheli said that Mathatha had lived his whole life setting an example that was noticeable by even those who looked at him from a distance, which made the sign of honour befitting.
In a statement released by Sanef, they thanked UWC and also mentioned that “Sanef believes it is a fitting tribute for Mathatha who has served his country, the continent and profession with dedication and honour and who continues to be an example to the legion of journalists who have followed him, particularly those he has worked with, mentored and trained. It is yet another accolade for a man who is regarded as one of South African journalism’s towering figures.”
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