NMMU honours three icons
THREE formidable Nelson Mandela Bay residents were honoured at the annual NMMU Council Prestige Awards last night for their immense contribution to the greater university community.
Late unionist and workers’ rights activist Phumzile John Gomomo, former NMMU council member Cumngce Gawe and internationally renowned motivational speaker Alison Botha are this year’s recipients of the awards.
The awards, conferred on individuals who have shown immense commitment and broken ground in their respective fields, were presented by NMMU council chair Judge Ronnie Pillay.
Gawe, 77, was lauded for his loyalty and dedication to the university and its predecessors over the years, through his long and sustained involvement with the institution.
The former Uitenhage mayor was elected to serve on NMMU’s interim council in 2005 and then served as an Alumni Association member to the university council from 2005 to this year.
During his tenure as council member, Gawe was elected deputy chairman for every term of office he served.
He resigned in February due to ill health. “My relationship with the university is longstanding – from being a student to a council member,” he said.
“I’ve cherished the ideals that Nelson Mandela stood for – access to education, equality, among others – and I am deeply humbled by this wonderful gesture.”
He praised Pillay and vice-chancellor Professor Derrick Swartz for their leadership during trying times in higher education.
The council honoured Botha, 49, for her commitment to empowering others to transcend their circumstances, overcome life’s difficulties and stand strong in the face of adversity.
The former Collegiate Girls’ High School head girl is renowned the world over for her incredible story of miraculously surviving a horrendous abduction and rape ordeal, in which she was stabbed multiple times, disembowelled and left for dead.
She later shared her story in her book I Have Life and travelled the world sharing her positive message.
In 1995, Alison was awarded the prestigious Rotarian Paul Harris Award for “Courage Beyond the Norm”.
In the same year she was the first recipient of Femina magazine’s “Woman of Courage” award as well as being Port Elizabeth’s Citizen of the Year.
“Coming here, I thought: What did I do to deserve this? But it’s all part of the butterfly effect. A small act here can have a bigger impact,” she said.
“The support I got from Port Elizabeth at the time was phenomenal, but even more than that is how telling my story has helped others.”
Gomomo, who would have turned 70 next Friday, was lauded for his dedication and unwavering commitment to addressing the rights of workers.
He joined Volkswagen SA in 1963 and studied labour relations at the former UPE.
He was chairman of the Volkswagen liaison committee in the early 1970s and was instrumental in the formation of Cosatu and Numsa.
He became an ANC MP and chairman of the portfolio committee on public service and administration in 1999. He died in Uitenhage in 2008. “This is the first time that my father is being lauded for his work,” Gomomo’s son Vuyani Gomomo said.
“Not even the organisations he served tirelessly have honoured him.
“As a representative of the family, we thank you for this.”