Staff and students were given the opportunity to share the names of their loved ones who succumbed to the virus, or those whom they were not able to bid farewell because of the prevailing lockdown restrictions.
Hosted on the eve of the anniversary of South Africa’s hard lockdown on 27 March 2020, the remembrance service was addressed by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Sibongile Muthwa, who shared words of comfort with the University community.
“None of us could have imagined then what lay ahead or how our world would be forever changed. The pandemic has changed the way we work, study, live and even how we now behave. It has derailed our economy and has had a massive toll on our mental wellbeing and seriously impacted on our education system,” she said.
“In the circumstances, there has been widespread hurt, anguish and deep loss. From something as simple as not being able to hug a friend, visit an elderly relative or enjoy a milestone occasion such as birthdays, weddings and, for us, graduation ceremonies.”
Prof Muthwa spoke about how the pandemic has resulted in “tremendous loss of lives around the world”, with more than 2.6-million recorded deaths globally, as at earlier this month.
“In South Africa, more than 50 000 people have died due to the pandemic, many of who comes from our province and metro. We, as Mandela University, have not been immune. We have lost 11 staff members and one student to the pandemic. Each of these individuals has left a void in their colleagues, friends and families.
“The depth of our loss extends so much further since almost every one of us – our 3 500 staff members and 29 000 students – have been directly impacted, having unexpectedly lost friends, distant and immediate family members.
The pandemic and subsequent lockdown restrictions have meant that many people were unable to attend funerals, or even visit loved ones in their time of need – a hard situation for many as it goes against everything what caring, compassionate human beings are used to.
“And so, as we are hosting this short service today, to give ourselves an opportunity to reach out to reach other, albeit virtually, in kindness, empathy and care in our shared loss,” said Prof Muthwa.
“Today is an opportunity to give words to our sorrow, and witness to our grief, by collectively remembering and celebrating those who touched our lives.”
The virtual service premiered on the University’s YouTube channel this afternoon. The names of more than 200 loved ones, who passed away as a result of COVID-19-related symptoms, were forwarded by staff and students and displayed on the screen.
Also part of the tribute were three poets, who gave moving tributes in English, Afrikaans and isiXhosa, paying homage to those who have passed on.