University of Limpopo Performing Arts students present a theatrical performance titled ‘Still, she speaks’, written and directed by Mr Blessing Shongwe, portraying how struggle icon Josephine Moshobane suffered at the hands of apartheid police during her unlawful arrest, conditions that ultimately led to her death. Photos: Frans Nkhapele
By Isaack Duba – ulpublications@.ul.ac.za
More than three decades into democracy, South African women continue to confront abuse, discrimination, and systemic marginalisation. Although these injustices take different forms from the brutality of apartheid, their impact remains equally devastating
The University of Limpopo (UL) remains committed to ensuring that the sacrifices of women who fought for liberation are neither forgotten nor erased. One way it achieves this is through the annual Josephine Segana Moshobane Memorial Lecture.
In 2025, marking its fourth edition, the lecture featured celebrated actress Leleti Khumalo as the keynote speaker. Her address resonated powerfully with South Africa’s ongoing struggle for gender equality. Under the theme “Forty Years On: Reclaiming Her Voice, Restoring Our Consciousness,” Khumalo—known for her roles in Sarafina!, Hotel Rwanda, Yesterday, and Invictus—reminded the audience that, 40 years after Moshobane’s brutal death, women still face significant socio-economic challenges, violence, and exclusion.
“As we continue the struggle and honour the legacy of Moshobane, it’s essential to understand where you come from before you can determine where you’re going,” Khumalo emphasised. Her speech combined personal anecdotes, historical reflections, and a rallying cry for the next generation to refuse silence in the face of injustice.
Leleti Khumalo underscores the significant challenges facing today’s women, drawing connections to the struggles of Josephine Moshobane.
In tribute to Moshobane’s indomitable spirit, Khumalo stated, “She was cut down but refused to be eliminated. Like glue, she held the family together as the foundational unit of the nation.” She painted a stark picture of Moshobane’s suffering, detailing her imprisonment without trial, months of torture, and the brain damage inflicted under apartheid’s Section 29 detention law, framing it as a reminder of the courage required to confront current crises.
Khumalo drew compelling parallels between past and present issues such as mental health struggles affecting youth, rising unemployment, and students being excluded from education due to financial constraints. “We are a nation built on sacrifices and resilience,” she asserted, invoking figures like Winnie Mandela and Lillian Ngoyi. “If you can’t fly, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl. But by all means, keep moving.”
She also addressed the sexism she still encounters in the entertainment industry. “Too often, it’s about who you know, not what you can do. That’s why I mentor young talent, to ensure their voices are heard and their gifts recognised.”
Josephine Moshobane’s story is of a courageous student leader at the then University of the North (now UL) who boldly advocated for black students and confronted apartheid head-on. At just 24, after returning from Botswana, she was arrested without cause, detained in inhumane conditions, and ultimately lost her life for her activism.
Josephine Moshobane’s nieces, Mpho and Yvette Moshobane, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the University of Limpopo for honouring and preserving her life and legacy.
Her nieces, Mpho and Yvette Moshobane, described her as “a young woman of fire” who understood that education was never enough without activism. “Her legacy lives on in every woman who refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice,” they said.
Among other initiatives to keep Moshobane’s legacy alive, UL has named one of its residences in her honour. During the inaugural lecture, a plaque was unveiled at that residence to ensure her memory and contributions are preserved for generations to come.
Prof Tebogo Mothiba, UL’s Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Partnerships, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to grow Moshabane’s legacy. “The pain endured by Moshobane’s family, and her extraordinary contribution to the liberation struggle, inspire us to keep her memory alive. UL will continue honouring her legacy and the critical role women have played in our revolution.”
Speaking on behalf of the Student Representative Council (SRC), Melvin Mogano, Chairperson of the Faculty of Humanities, urged students to follow her example. “Her life is a beacon of hope. We call upon the new generation to rise with the same courage, resilience, and determination to confront the social ills that persist in our society.”