By Siviwe Mxuma

On 20 May 2024, Rhodes University continued its 120th-anniversary celebrations by hosting the first session of its two-day Sustainability Colloquium. This session, titled "Governance and Civil Society: Towards Reduced Inequalities," featured distinguished speakers including Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships; Professor Leticia Greyling from the Rhodes Business School; Mr Alistair McMaster from the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs, and Tourism; and Advocate Shuaib Rahim from the Rhodes University Law Faculty.

"This event is part of our year-long celebrations, proudly marking 120 years of excellence at Rhodes University," remarked Dr Mzilikazi, and she emphasised that these celebrations are an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate past and present successes while also reimagining the institution's collective future.

Dr Mzilikazi further explained that the colloquium aims to raise awareness and foster opportunities for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goal 17, which emphasises collaborations. By positioning sustainability as a core value and research focus at Rhodes University, the colloquium seeks to facilitate multidisciplinary conversations and engaged research collaborations both within the university and beyond.

The Colloquium brought together researchers from across faculties and departments including Chemistry, Drama, Journalism, Botany, Environmental Science, Environmental Learning Research Centre, Institute for Water Research, amongst others to share insights and ideas and to build collaborations that will enable our legacy to be one of working together to make a just and sustainable University and society as highlighted by the IDP 2023-2028.

The Colloquium’s aims were to:

• Position sustainability as a unique opportunity at Rhodes University
• Highlight sustainability as a core value and a core focus of research across the University;
• Facilitate conversations leading to multidisciplinary and/or engaged research collaborations at Rhodes (and beyond);
• Consider opportunities and strategies around funding.

Dr Mzilikazi also spoke about the importance of collaborative work in achieving the university's Institutional Development Plan (IDP). "We realise that the only way to deliver on the intentions of the IDP is through deliberate collaborative efforts, just as the sustainability colloquium intends," she said. She mentioned the proposal to develop institutional research teams and faculty programmatic research areas to enhance global positioning, accelerate research excellence, and support multi- and transdisciplinary projects. "We are optimistic about our success with this research instrument because sustainability at Rhodes University is not just a catchphrase but a driving passion for many of our researchers," she concluded.

Following Dr Mzilikazi, Professor Leticia Greyling discussed the importance of integrating environmental considerations into economic development plans. She emphasised the interconnectedness of nature and the economy, referencing concepts like the green economy, circular economy, regenerative economy, and doughnut economy. "Value should not only be financial but also value created for the community," she stressed. Prof Greyling highlighted the three Ps – People, Planet, and Profit – as essential components of sustainability, arguing that thriving societies and economies fundamentally depend on a healthy environment.

Mr Alistair McMaster focused on energy sustainability in South Africa, particularly in the Eastern Cape. He highlighted the region's significant wind resource and the potential for wind farms to combat load shedding. He discussed the broader goal of transitioning from high carbon dioxide emissions to sustainable energy production by 2050. "We need to transition from producing about 35 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide per year to net zero by 2050," he explained. Mr McMaster emphasised the importance of secure and affordable energy for economic stability and societal well-being, and the critical role that wind and solar energy resources in the Eastern Cape could play in achieving these goals.

Advocate Shuaib Rahim discussed the integration of sustainability principles into company law and corporate governance. He highlighted how his students are learning to apply principles of governance and responsibility in various legal contexts, including international trade, competition law, and contracts. Advocate Rahim encouraged the formation of social and ethics committees within companies to embed corporate governance and social responsibility principles. He also spoke about the Crisis Fund initiative, which provides emergency financial support to students, demonstrating the faculty's commitment to addressing immediate needs and fostering a supportive academic environment.

The first session of the Rhodes University Sustainability Colloquium successfully highlighted the essential role of governance and civil society in reducing inequalities and promoting sustainable development. The colloquium fostered a rich dialogue on creating a more equitable and sustainable future by bringing together diverse perspectives from academia, civil society, and the legal field.

As Rhodes University continues its year-long celebration, the themes and discussions from the colloquium will undoubtedly inspire future initiatives to reduce inequalities and promote sustainable development. Through continued collaboration and innovative research, Rhodes University is poised to make significant contributions to a more just and sustainable world.

The organising committee was Jo Dames, Rosa Klein, Sukhmani Mantel, Tony Booth, Harold Gess, Craig Peter, James Gambiza, Cheryl Fisher and Masixole Jonono (RUCE).