Final call for Soweto’s top brains Dr Gugushe
Gugushe served education greatly
Dr Richard Nephtali Gugushe, a seasoned academic and founder principal of the Vista University Soweto campus, now part of University of Johannesburg, has died at the age of 104 years and 11-months on Sunday.
His death comes six months after the passing away of his wife Madge Gugushe on March 8. She was 101-years.
Dr Gugushe was born in Matatiele on October 8 1913. He completed primary school at Malingoaneng Elementary School in Lesotho where his father held a teaching post.
When he was 11, his father sent him to Ohlange Institute north of Durban to complete his higher primary education.
His principal was Struggle stalwart Dr John Langalibalele Dube.
The youngest in his class, Gugushe was further promoted from Form 1 to 2 and acquired his junior certificate (Form 3) in 1928, at the age of 15.
He proceeded to Fort Hare, then called the South African Native College where he completed matric in 1930.
Poor economic conditions led to an ill and young Gugushe to quitting his tertiary studies at Fort Hare. He thought he was going to die, blaming the illness on the diet at Fort Hare.
He returned to Lesotho to join his father as an unqualified teacher at Malingoaneng from 1931 to 1933.
The following he was called on to double up as a boardingmaster and teacher at Ohlange. Thus began a long history of work in education and academia via studies through Unisa.
In 1937 he returned to Fort Hare to complete his degree majoring in Sesotho and social anthropology, and studied English as his additional teaching subject. His work later led to a deputy principal post at the historic Orlando High, where he also taught mathematics.
After a stint as schools inspector he became the vicerector at Vista University.
In 1949, he completed the university education diploma.
His other top jobs included inspector in Soweto, Krugersdorp, Randfontein and Sophiatown (1951-54); Middelburg, responsible for schools in Witbank, Leslie, Delmas, Dennilton, Groblersdal, Barberton, Nelspruit areas (1955).
His burial service is today at the Holy Cross Anglican Church, Orlando West, 8am.