The University of Natal last night conferred an honorary Doctorate of Economics on Telkom`s Chairman, Advocate Dikgang Moseneke, for his outstanding contribution to the progress of society.
In its laudation, the University said the Doctorate was in recognition of Advocate Moseneke`s "outstanding and excellent contribution in promoting the progress of human society".
Dikgang Moseneke is one of the leading members of the South African business community. In addition to his position as Chairman of Telkom, he is the Chief Executive of New Africa Investments Limited, the Chairman of Metropolitan Life Limited, and a director of New Africa Media.
Moseneke became a member of the Pan African Congress (PAC) at the age of 14 when he was in Standard 8 at Kilnerton High School in Pretoria. He was arrested and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on Robben Island for sabotage. While at Robben Island, he completed his schooling and received a BA degree in English and Political Science, a B Juris degree and subsequently, the LLB degree, all through UNISA. In 1992 the University of the North conferred on him the degree of LLD (honoris causa).
His professional career began in 1978 when he was admitted as an attorney. In 1983 he was admitted to the Pretoria Bar, where he practised as an advocate. 10 years later he was elevated to the status of Senior Counsel (SC). In 1993 he served on the technical committee that drafted the interim Constitution of a democratic South Africa.
Moseneke served as Deputy Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa`s first democratic elections and subsequently he was appointed to the Supreme Court as an acting judge. Shortly, after the advent of the new democratic dispensation Moseneke bid farewell to public political life and settled for a new role in the business world.
He is a founder member of the Black Lawyers Association (BLA) and of the National Association of Democratic Lawyers of South Africa (NADEL). In 1986 Moseneke was appointed visiting Law Professor at Columbia Law School, University of Columbia, New York. He served as chairman of Project Literacy for more than 10 years and as trustee of Sowetan`s Nation Building Project. Moseneke is also deputy chairman of the Nelson Mandela Children`s Fund and of The Freedom Park Trust. He is the first Chancellor of Pretoria Technikon.
Moseneke has received numerous awards including the KWV Award of Excellence, the Black Lawyers Association Excellence Award, Unisa School of Business Leadership Excellence Award, Black Management Forum (BMF) Empowerment Award, 1998 Sunday Times Businessman of the Year Nominee, and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers 2000 International Lawyer of the Year Award.
Accepting the honorary doctorate from the University of Natal, Dr Moseneke said it remained true that nothing truly great was achieved by individual effort.
"All great edifices of the world are a product of collective and unrelenting effort. I must therefore thank my wife, Kabonina, my daughter, Duduzile and sons, Sedise and Rabi, who have always spurred me on and given me all the love and support to achieve every time I take on any task," he said.
Dr Moseneke also extended his gratitude to the management and staff of Telkom, who had made his quest for transformation, leadership and entrepreneurship possible.
"I would also like to thank the executive management and employees of New Africa Investments Limited for making it possible for such an award to be extended to me because of their good work," he said.
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