Preparations for the 14th Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture are far advanced. For the first time we will be partnering with the University of Pretoria, which will host the Lecture at its Mamelodi campus.
The Lecture is being dedicated to the many residents of this township who gave their lives in the struggle for liberation and democracy in South Africa. As most of our readers will know, Bill Gates will be the Lecturer for 2016.
Our invitation to him was informed by five lines of analysis and consideration:
- In the last two years poverty and inequality have been primary areas of focus for the NMF. This underlay the selection of Thomas Piketty to give the last Annual Lecture. During the Lecture and other engagements Piketty referenced Bill Gates in his analysis of philanthropy and the use and taxation of wealth to address redress.
- We wanted to pursue the last Lecture’s lines of enquiry with the 2016 Lecture. Specifically we wanted to stimulate debate around the role of private wealth and philanthropy to address poverty and inequality.
- Gates represents some of the extraordinary steps individuals can take in transforming society as private citizens. He is working on addressing issues such as poverty, education and health care. Gates has been able to effect non-state solutions and he advocates for inclusive solutions involving the ultra-wealthy. This speaks directly to the Lecture’s theme of “Living Together”.
- Gates is arguably the most influential philanthropist globally in terms of affecting development agendas. This influence can't be ignored and the Foundation engages constructively with these issues.
- Nelson Mandela associated with Gates on a range of projects over the years, notably in the field of health.
A number of preparatory dialogue encounters have been organized ahead of the Lecture.
On 6 July Foundation staff met with representatives of student formations at the University of Pretoria to engage on issues relevant to the 14th Lecture, with special emphasis on possible follow-through interventions.
On 7 July the Chief Executive spent the day in Mamelodi meeting with families of those who lost their lives in the struggle. In the week ahead of the Lecture a focus group space will be created at the Foundation for voices critical of Gates and the work of his Foundation.
We are looking forward to Gates’ contribution to public discourse on critical issues for South Africa, and are committed to fostering discussion and debate on that contribution after the Lecture.