Bengu was ‘a statesman of the human spirit’
The late Professor Sibusiso Bhengu’s life was described on Friday as a testament to the power of vision, peace, and justice.
Vasu Gounden, the executive director of the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD), made the remarks at Bengu’s funeral at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Bengu passed away in December at the age of 90.
He served as the first Black Vice-Chancellor at the University of Forte Hare and later as the first Minister of Education in a democratic South Africa.
Gounden told mourners at the Special Category 2 funeral that Bengu, a founding trustee, always supported ACCORD’s vision as a political dispute resolution institute.
“When I came up with the idea of establishing ACCORD, (former president) Thabo Mbeki suggested I approach the principles of historically Black universities to be founding trustees, and so Professor Bhengu was one of the three founding trustees.”
Gounden said Bengu dedicated himself to uniting people across cultures and ideologies, adding that he was much more than an academic and mediator..
“He was a statesman of the human spirit, a man who did not just see the brokenness in the world but an infinite potential for healing. He taught us that dialogue, even in the face of division, is not just an option but an imperative, ” Gounden said.
“He believed that Africa, often scarred by conflict, could be a continent of resolution, reconciliation and restoration.”
