Justice Khampepe urges graduates to make democracy a reality

Justice Sisi Khampepe, a distinguished jurist, recently urged South Africa's younger generation to take an active role in shaping democracy and turning its promises into reality. During her honorary doctorate ceremony at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) on Wednesday, Justice Khampepe emphasized that her generation had helped dismantle an unjust political system and set the foundation for a constitutional democracy.

Her message to today's graduates was clear: it was their duty to make that democracy a tangible reality in the daily lives of South Africans. Born in Soweto in 1957, Justice Khampepe is a trailblazer as one of the first Black South African women to earn her LLM from Harvard Law School in 1982. Reflecting on her education within a democratic context, she noted that seeing alternative identities broaden her perspective made it harder to accept the present as permanent.

Her legal career reached national prominence when former President Nelson Mandela appointed her to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 1995. This role demanded immense integrity and compassion as the nation sought to address its painful past. While acknowledging progress towards justice, Justice Khampepe warned that systemic issues like high unemployment, inequality, and climate crises remain significant challenges for South Africa.

She cautioned against expecting optimism alone to solve these problems and stressed that obstacles are not merely personal failures. Instead, she highlighted the importance of individual agency in overcoming structural inequalities. Justice Khampepe expressed deep gratitude for receiving the honorary doctorate, calling it a meaningful recognition.

UJ's Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi, praised her contributions to democracy, noting her legacy of integrity and community involvement aligns with the university's values. This year, UJ conferred honorary doctorates on notable figures such as Her Excellency Monica Geingos, former Springbok Captain Francois Pienaar, global human rights activist Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, and educator Professor Njabulo Ndebele, all of whom have made exceptional contributions to society.