Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Honorary Lecture 2026

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Post-event report

 

Reflections from the 15th Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Honorary Lecture: Reaffirming Constitutional Democracy and Citizen Leadership

 

With support from the Konrad‑Adenauer‑Stiftung (KAS), Professor Bonang Mohale’s keynote ignited a powerful conversation on ethical leadership, constitutional accountability and the future of democratic participation in South Africa.

 

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) South Africa supported the 15th Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Honorary Lecture, hosted by the Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert Institute on 18 March 2026. The event brought together students, academics, alumni, civil society representatives and international partners for an evening of reflection on democratic leadership and constitutional values.

 

In his keynote address, Professor Bonang Mohale offered a compelling examination of the responsibilities that accompany citizenship in a constitutional democracy. He cautioned against complacency in the face of democratic erosion, reminding attendees that “where there is no hope in the future, there is no power in the present.” His reflections underscored the urgency of ethical leadership, social justice, and active public participation, noting that constitutions cannot sustain democracy without the commitment and vigilance of the people they are designed to serve.

 

He noted that democracy is a system that prevents the worst outcomes, rather than guaranteeing the best outcome. Its strength is as a system for error-correction without a violent overthrow of the state.

 

The lecture deepened the longstanding collaboration between the FVZS Institute and KAS, building on shared efforts to strengthen democratic engagement, promote accountable governance and develop leadership committed to the public good. The programme featured an interactive discussion session and concluded with the announcement of Professor Mohale’s appointment as an honorary member of the Institute.

 

This lecture forms part of a broader programme of democratic dialogue supported by KAS, complementing previous engagements on constitutionalism, governance and youth leadership.

 

Information about the event

 

Van Zyl Slabbert was a respected South African academic, politician, businessman, strategist and critical thinker who played a pivotal role in South Africa’s struggle towards democracy. Through the annual honorary lecture, KAS and Stellenbosch University (SU) acknowledges Slabbert’s active role in society and encourages young people to take up their role(s) in their respective communities/societies.

 

The leadership values Slabbert epitomized through his collaborative engagement prior to South Africa’s first democratic election in 1994, supports the vision SU has of delivering graduates as active and engaged citizens in the broader societal context, aligned with SU’s graduate attributes. FVZSI strives to prepare a generation of leaders empowered with an understanding of themselves, society and the tools needed to contribute meaningfully as global citizens.

 

March 2012 marked the inauguration of the institutionally supported annual honorary lecture in honour and remembrance of the late Dr Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert. The Lecture honours his legacy through exploring the principles that he stood for and shared thus encouraging others to follow in his footsteps. As such the lecture sets the tone for further conversation around the specific theme and the legacy of Van Zyl Slabbert in the formal and informal activities of the FVZS Institute at SU.

 

The 2026 Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Honorary Lecture guest speaker is Professor Bonang Mohale.

 

Prof Bonang Francis Mohale was appointed as the Chancellor of the University of the Free State in 2020. He is Professor of Practice in the Johannesburg Business School (JBS) College of Business and Economics, and Chairman of the Bidvest Group Limited. He is a highly respected South African businessman, known as much for his patriotism as for his active role in advancing the country’s interests. He is author of the best-selling book, Lift as You Rise, launched in November 2018. It is a compilation of some of his spoken and written words in which Prof Mohale reveals the issues he is passionate about – among them, leadership, transformation, people development, constructive collaboration, and integrity.

 

Prof Mohale was the Chief Executive Officer of Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) until June 2019 – a forum which brings together the leadership of South Africa’s most successful and influential big business and multinational investors to exchange ideas, facilitate effective dialogue with government and other stakeholders, and advocate for pro-business, economically sustainable policies and programmes. Prior to joining BLSA, he ended a distinguished term as Vice-President of Upstream and Chairman of Shell South Africa (Pty) Limited at the end of June 2017.

 

Prof Mohale, who originally studied to be a medical doctor, has had a distinguished career at the helm and in leadership roles of several major South African and multinational companies, including Otis Elevators, South African Airways, Sanlam Limited, and Drake & Scull Integrated Facilities Management. He currently serves on the boards of Swiss Re Africa Limited, Rand Merchant Bank Limited (RMB), and SBV.

 

He has an impressive track record of building successful companies, delivering results, and making significant advances in transformation in the companies he has been privileged to lead. Prof Mohale has been a vocal, courageous, and active proponent of transformation since the 1980s, and has played a leadership role in the Black Management Forum (BMF) for more than 33 years, where he was the president.