University to recognise talented trio
IN MARCH the Cape Peninsula University of Technology will confer honorary doctorates on Anant Singh, Marlene le Roux and Mildred Mandu Ramaka-Lesiea for outstanding contributions in their respective fields.
Durban film producer, Anant Singh will be honoured with a Doctorate in Technology in Design for his outstanding contribution to the development and sustainability of the South African film industry.
Singh said it was very exciting and a huge honour.
“I’m thrilled they bestowed it on me.
“It’s a testament to the thousands of people who have worked on my films.
“It is nice and exciting to be acknowledged in this way, especially from a South African university and one in Cape Town, where we shot Mandela (the movie).
“The film industry is very exciting right now, both local and abroad, and there are lots of young people coming into the industry.”
Singh advised young people to be passionate about what they want to do. “Follow your heart and passion. It’s hard work, but it pays off,” he said.
Le Roux, the chief executive of the Artscape Theatre Centre, will be honoured with a Doctorate in Education for her contribution to the performing arts, education and social transformation in South Africa.
“When I was told, I decided not to tell anybody. To date, I haven’t told my family, my children, the Artscape… anybody. I was extremely overwhelmed. It’s a huge honour,” said Le Roux.
“I’m still pinching myself. I didn’t believe Professor (John) Volmink when he told me. I said to the professor, ‘maybe you made a mistake’. There are so many worthy candidates. I see myself as a person who has been blessed so much. I come from a very poor background.
“I am a woman with a disability. I’m of colour. I’ve experienced the brunt of apartheid. I’ve experienced being a single mother. I didn’t accept this (doctorate) only for myself. I had so many people helping me in my life. There are so many people who contributed.
Le Roux said she still studied and had an enquiring mind. “Going to university or tertiary level education is not just about book knowledge. You meet other people, minds and thinkers in different environments.
“Our country concentrates too much on university degrees. That’s why for me, it’s much more of an honour, to get this doctorate from the technikon. We think that everything is about university, but it’s not.
“We need artisans, technical people and engineers. We need all of that, not just academics to build our country. That’s why I am focused on skills transfer. – saarah. surve@inl.co.za