Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sibongile Muthwa will lead a series of tributes by the University’s leadership, Deanery, colleagues and students to honour the memory of a man who touched so many lives in the three short, but dynamic years he spent at the institution.
Prof Pepeta, who was laid to rest at his home in Bizana, Eastern Cape, yesterday morning (12 August 2020), had been the driving force in the realization of the University’s vision for establishing the country’s tenth Medical School. He was also chairing the country’s Council for Medical Schemes and leading the province’s advisory efforts in fighting the pandemic, when he succumbed to COVID-19 related complications on Friday, 07 August 2020.
The Virtual Memorial Service will take place over Microsoft Teams, affording all within the University community, an opportunity be part of the proceedings in memory of Prof Pepeta.
Nelson Mandela University Chancellor, Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, and Chair of Council, Ambassador Nozipho January-Bardill, will give tributes, with faculty and deanery representatives, Professors Dalena van Rooyen (Health Sciences Deputy Dean) and Avinash Govindjee (Law Faculty Dean), and a student representative also speaking in Prof Pepeta’s memory, are amongst those paying tribute.
A dedicated memorial page has been set up, where the outpouring of tributes to Prof Pepeta are all collated. Colleagues, students, friends and all who wish to give written or audiovisual tributes or acknowledgements have an opportunity to do so on this page.
