Deputy Minister of Education Dr Reginah Mhaule says Professor Sibusiso Bengu’s memorial service is not meant to mourn him but to celebrate his work. Bengu’s memorial service is underway in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal.
He died last week at the age of 90. Professor Bengu was the first education minister in democratic South Africa.
Mhaule says Bengu transformed the system.
“As South Africa, we are here to celebrate we are not here to mourn, we are here to celebrate the work done by Professor Bengu. Where we are today, we are standing on the shoulders of the giants. When he came to the Department of Education, when he started the department, there were 19 different departments that were based on segregation. Then Professor Bengu had to start a new department of education, bringing together the 19 departments segmented departments.”
Deputy Minister @ReginahMhaule is today attending the memorial service of Professor Sibusiso Bengu, the first education minister in a democratic South Africa. pic.twitter.com/JS9omXXVEO
— Dep. Basic Education (@DBE_SA) January 9, 2025
VIDEO | Deputy Minister of Education Reginah Mhaule reflects on Professor Bengu’s life.
Monumental task
Mhaule says that merging the departments was a monumental task, adding that it was not an easy task because some people enjoyed the benefits of segregation.
“So, it was fight after fight and he fought until he managed to bring it to one education department. He was part of the people who pioneered outcome-based education. Remember the education that was there before was just to make you read, write, and talk Afrikaans. But he said we want an outcome-based education that will see the fruits and today we are here because he laid a strong foundation.”
VIDEO| Professor Bengu’s memorial service.
