Rhodes honours Archbishop Makgoba for advocacy and ethical leadership
A voice of reason, a conscience in society, an activist against corruption and an advocate for same-sex unions.
These are a few of the reasons Archbishop Thabo Makgoba was honoured by Rhodes University on Thursday with an honorary Doctorate of Law degree.
Makgoba said it went without saying that it was a great honour to receive the honorary degree from Rhodes and gave his heartfelt thanks to the institution that is celebrating its 120th anniversary.
The 64-year-old was bestowed with an honorary doctorate as an acknowledgment of his unwavering commitment to justice and ethical leadership within the Anglican Church and beyond.
“I receive this honour for those who were unfairly excluded from university for other reasons, as well as children who are prevented by fear or violence from going to school.
“My long-lasting ties with this city [Makhanda] makes me especially grateful for receiving an honorary degree from Rhodes.”
He said he arrived in Makhanda more than 35 years ago to study at the then St Paul’s College — the Anglican Church’s residential seminary.
“I remember how I would dash from the Old Testament and Greek classes at the college to the Rhodes chemistry lab.
“I cannot recall how many beakers I have broken in the lab, suffice to say it was so many that I lost my lab deposit money,” Makgoba said.
The Johannesburg-born bishop began his ministry in the Diocese of Johannesburg, serving in various roles, before becoming the bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Makhanda .
He was elected as the Archbishop of Cape Town in 2007, becoming the youngest person to hold the position.
Makgoba’s academic journey includes a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Cape Town, he is also an adjunct professor at the Allan Gray School for Values at UCT and has served as the chancellor of the University of the Western Cape since 2012, among several other titles that he holds.
During 2012, he also established the Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Development Trust as a small grant-giving entity with a focus on education, food security, and the pursuit of social justice.
“In the time since I have been in Cape Town, our Makgoba family foundation has inaugurated an annual lecture at Rhodes, which is our way of giving back to this community.
“We have been greatly enriched by hosting these public lectures, bringing all to the table to discuss ethical and moral leadership issues.”
Despite facing setbacks for about a decade, such as the rejection of proposals to bless same-sex unions by church synods, Makgoba has continued to advocate for inclusivity within the church.
“When I was elected and installed as the Archbishop of Cape Town, the theological theme of the incarnation that was nurtured for me here became clearer and three values emerged.
“The first is the dignity of all, in the church this means that all are welcomed in God’s house and among God’s people,” he said.
The second value was celebrating each others differences and the third, respecting the environment.
He said in the coming weeks, draft prayers for samesex couples would be released, which would be debated by the church’s highest legislative body in September.
Makgoba has received numerous accolades for his service including the Cross of St Augustine from the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2008, and several honorary doctorates from universities across the globe.
He has also published works including Faith and
Courage: Praying with Mandela and Connectedness, reflecting his engagement with spiritual leadership and community connectivity.