Raising the Bar for Human Dignity

The Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity and Social Change (CDSIC), in collaboration with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), recently hosted the first Crucial Conversation of the year, under the theme “Human Rights in Action: Building an Inclusive CPUT Community.”

The session brought together staff, students, community leaders, the SAHRC, the Department of Higher Education and Training, and various stakeholders for a reflective and courageous dialogue about what human rights mean within the university space today. The Programme Director, Lolwethu Luthuli, Information Technology Coordinator, Faculty of Business Management Sciences (FBMS), opened the engagement by reflecting on the preamble of the South African Constitution, reminding attendees that the Constitution remains both a historical marker and a living roadmap for equality, dignity and justice. Her opening grounded the audience in the collective responsibility to build an institution where human rights are not symbolic but experienced in everyday campus life.

In her welcoming address, Brightness Mangolothi, Director of CDISC, encouraged heightened openness and participation, emphasising that human rights must be woven into the fabric of teaching, learning, governance, research, and institutional culture. She noted that transformation is not an event but a daily commitment, and that every participant shares responsibility for creating a more humane, just and inclusive CPUT.

Representing the student body, Central SRC member Noxolo Khupe Jele, Education and Transformation Officer, reminded the audience that despite celebrating 30 years of the South African Constitution, many students still experience exclusion, discrimination, gender based violence, hunger and other barriers that undermine their dignity. She emphasised that human rights must be lived, not theorised, and that an inclusive university is one where every student, including LGBTQIA+ students, feels seen, safe and respected.

The keynote address by Advocate Tammy Carter, Advocacy and Research Consultant of the SAHRC, examined the human rights landscape in South Africa with honesty and depth. She noted that human dignity is the foundation upon which all other rights rest, and that the psychological, cultural and linguistic wounds of apartheid continue to shape present-day behaviour, opportunities and inequalities. Carter emphasised that rights come with responsibilities, and that institutions require active citizenship from both staff and students to ensure accountability, fairness and inclusion.

Throughout the session, participants enriched the dialogue through reflections shared in the chat box. Some noted that “we seem to be missing a piece of the puzzle,” expressing concern that the basics of dignity and justice have been neglected to the point where the community has “lost the way back.” Another theme that emerged was the tension between individual rights and collective responsibility.

Respondent Prof Rozenda Hendrickse, Head of Department: Department of Public Administration and Governance, FBMS, offered a student-centred lens, highlighting governance strengths and gaps. She emphasised the need for consistent application of policies, stronger accountability structures, and more inclusive approaches to decision-making. She also noted that the lived experiences of students should remain central to transformation conversations, and that policies without implementation amount to missed opportunities for real change.

From the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), Sesi Mahlobogoane, Director: Social Inclusion and Equity, reinforced that human rights and social inclusion are constitutional and ethical obligations. She highlighted the importance of leadership that acts with compassion and integrity, stressing that safety, dignity and equality are non negotiable in higher education.

In response to many of the concerns raised Mangolothi confirmed that CPUT is strengthening its commitment to human rights work through plans to formalise collaboration with the South African Human Rights Commission via an MOU, conduct campus-wide roadshows, and enhance monitoring and evaluation systems. These initiatives aim to ensure that transformation becomes measurable, sustained and meaningful across all campuses.

Tumiso Mfisa, Stream Co Ordinator: Gender Equality, Diversity & Inclusivity, CDISC, stated that this engagement serves as a reminder that human rights are upheld not only through policies and dialogues such as these, but through daily actions, empathy, and a collective commitment to treating one another with dignity.

According to Mangolothi, the Crucial Conversation was the culmination of a series of interventions commemorating Human Rights Month. On 18 March 2026, the CDISC hosted the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in collaboration with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB) under the campaign “Language as a Human Right.” The session explored the implications of South African Sign Language (SASL) being recognised as an official language, linking this milestone to the mandates of both the SAHRC and the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE).

Written by CPUT News
Email: news@cput.ac.za