First woman to take role in Methodist Church of Southern Africa receives a doctorate

Unisa bestowed the Doctor of Philosophy in Theology degree on Bishop Nomthandazo Malinga at its graduation ceremony at the Muckleneuck campus in Pretoria on Thursday, April 11,

This was confirmed by the Christian spirituality department.

Malinga is “the first woman to take a role in the Methodist Church of Southern Africa”.

She said she was honoured to receive this outstanding recognition “on this special day of celebrating and recognising the hard work of everyone graduating today”.

“I consider it a special privilege to be recognised by Unisa, a globally acclaimed African university, which has, for more than 150 years, provided access to learning opportunities to countless people from various margins,” she said in her acceptance speech.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”

Malinga expressed gratitude to people who recognised her contribution and nominated her for the honor, as well as to her family and everyone who has helped in her journey.

She also thanked the church, calling it the spiritual home that has made her and enabled her to make a positive contribution to it and society.

Malinga grew up a congregant of the Webbstown Methodist Society in KwaZulu-Natal, where her mother and
grandmothers were members of the women’s Many and or Auxiliary.

She received schoolteacher training at Indaleni Methodist Institution and graduated in 1976, then returned home to Ixopo, where she taught for five years at the Siyakhona primary school.

Malinga said the Methodist ethos inspires her advocacy for the marginalised and knowing God has no favourites but created all irrespective of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and age.

“Methodism stands against all forms of injustice and discrimination.”

She said the church encourages its members to live lives that promote God’s love for the world and encourages its members to participate actively in the healing and transformation of society.

“I have committed to live by these teachings and have encouraged others to do the same. I thank the Methodist Church for contributing to making me who I am and who I have become,” she said.

She said that this recognition in one sentence means patriarchy does not have the last word. She does not consider it to be about her as an individual.

“I consider it a recognition of many women throughout the ages. Women of faith and women of no faith. Women who refuse to be defined and confined by patriarchy. It is for women who live as directed by their Maker.”

Malinga said it is a fact that male chauvinism remains entrenched in all spheres of society, including in religious spheres, if not especially in religious spheres.

“Women’s contributions are undermined in almost all institutions and spaces, including religious spaces, leadership is understood to be male and the leadership of women is mostly not allowed. Where it is allowed, it is not trusted but tolerated for political experience,” she said.

“It is a fact that male chauvinism remains entrenched in all spheres of society, including in religious spheres, if not especially in religious spheres. Women’s contributions are undermined in almost all institutions and spaces, including religious spaces. Leadership is understood to be male. The leadership of women is mostly not allowed. Where it is allowed, it is not trusted but tolerated for political experience.”

She said that when women lead, all efforts are made to frustrate and discredit them however despite all the efforts to deny, suppress, and undermine them, they rise and continue to contribute to the well-being of society as led by God.

“I, therefore, dedicate this recognition to women here and women everywhere. I dedicate this recognition to young and older women. To young girls, rise. Let nothing and no one define your role and contribution to life but your creator,” she said.

Unisa principal and vice-chancellor Prof Puleng LenkaBula congratulated all graduands, saying their hard work earned them recognition as part of Unisa’s illustrious alumni, which includes former presidents Nelson Mandela, Dr Thabo Mbeki, and incumbent Cyril Ramaphosa.

“You are walking in the footsteps of iconic leaders of our country, the continent, and the global arena,” she said.

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