FORMER University of Zululand lecturer and now Commissioner for Traditional Leadership, Disputes and Claims, Prof. Jabulani Maphalala has described the passing of the much celebrated academic and first Black Rector of the University of Zululand, Prof Abram Charles Nkabinde as a big blow to the education fraternal.
Nkabinde (85) died on Thursday, 7 August. Maphalala described Nkabinde as a giant who will always be remembered for his passion for education.
‘I still remember when I came to Unizulu as lecturer, Nkabinde was head of African languages. He was a strict disciplinarian, who was committed to his work.
‘He was also the longest serving Vice-Chancellor, and was very fluent in Afrikaans, a language hated by many of us. Under his administration, he played a huge role and was instrumental in the building of a university library,’ he said.
Maphalala’s sentiments were echoed by the current Rector and Vice Chancellor, Prof Fikile Mazibuko, who described Nkabinde as a distinguished scholar of African literature and academic administrator who had a great impact on the institution, in all its facets.
‘For this we applaud his efforts and are honoured to have been part of his academic journey. Last year we recognised and celebrated his contribution to higher education, the preservation and promotion of African literature. As the longest serving administrator (1963-1993) at Unizulu he provided unwavering supportive and influential leadership and passion for education.
‘To his family we pray that the memories of him as a father, husband, provider and parent lessen their grief over the coming years,’ she said.
His life
Born in Witbank, Nkabinde matriculated from Kilnerton High School in 1950 and qualified as a teacher at the Pretoria Bantu Normal College in 1953. He taught Zulu and maths at two high schools and was Chief Translator at the Department of Bantu Administration and Development.
In 1963 he joined the Zulu Department at the then University College of Zululand, and completed his MA in 1966, and was promoted to the position of Senior Lecturer in 1967. In 1975 he completed his DLitt and was promoted to Professor, and spent a year as a Research Fellow in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Edinburgh.
He translated Waldemar Bonsels’ ‘Die Biene Maya’ from German into Zulu, as ‘Umaya imigido yenyosi’ and established a team which initiated the compilation of a Zulu-Zulu dictionary, and was appointed as Unizulu Rector and Vice Chancellor in 1978, a position he held for 15 years.
Nkabinde was a published academic whose work fuelled a desire to preserve Zulu as an African indigenous language. His commitment to furthering education in Zulu has enabled Black South Africans to engage in academia in a language they are familiar with, and has fostered the culture of academic discourse in an indigenous African language.
He will be laid to rest today (Thursday) at Fourways in Johannesburg.
