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IOL News
06-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane SC awarded Honorary Doctor of Laws at University of Zululand
A Call for Decolonisation: Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane SC's Inspiring Graduation Speech at the University of Zululand Image: Facebook In a historic moment that reverberated through the halls of the University of Zululand, Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane SC was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) during the institution's second graduation session. But this accolade was more than mere ceremony; it was a clarion call—a fiery declaration of resistance, decolonisation, and unwavering commitment to justice. Sikhakhane, a renowned legal thinker, author of Odyssey of Liberation, and a stalwart voice of activism, used his acceptance speech to challenge the status quo, ignite the spirit of rebellion, and urge a collective movement toward genuine liberation. A Humble Beginning, A Bold Call He opened with humility, acknowledging the honour and its significance. 'I am grateful and humbled by this recognition,' Sikhakhane said. 'I always thought such an honour was reserved for the older generation, most of whom are en route to their graves. But to receive it from this university, a place I hold dear, affirms the ongoing struggle for our liberation.' He paid homage to the pioneers of resistance—those who dared to challenge imperialist, colonial, and apartheid systems—and called on future leaders to embody integrity and moral courage. 'As a lawyer, I must emphasise that unwavering courage and integrity are your most vital qualities,' he declared. 'They may not make you rich, but they will build your character and earn you respect. We must confront the worship of money - the 'pagan god'—which ruling elites and society alike have elevated above our shared humanity.' Law Is Not Justice: A Critique and a Call for Revolution Sikhakhane's critique of the legal system continued as he emphasised that 'Law is not justice.' 'It often disguises itself as neutral and universal, but is rooted in specific religious and cultural frameworks designed to reproduce and entrench social hierarchies. Recognising the co-constitutive relationship between settler colonialism, racial capitalism, and the psychology of colonialism is vital for true liberation.' He called for a revolutionary reimagining of society based on decolonisation. 'Decolonisation is not an end but a process—'the veritable creation of new men,' as Fanon said. It demands that we completely question the foundations of our knowledge, systems, and identities.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Challenging Western Narratives and Building a New Society Sikhakhane challenged leaders and intellectuals to contest Western civilisation's dominant narratives. 'Our Eurocentric legal and educational systems, and their apologists, only push us backwards,' he said. 'Western civilisation, as it stands today, is in disarray. If our point of departure remains European—if we accept their histories and standards—we are not truly free. It is time to tell Europe they are too young to teach us about being and knowing.' He called for the reconstitution of the state, arguing that it is time for citizens' assemblies—genuine platforms to rethink our revolution and draft a constitution rooted in liberation. He urged everyone to see themselves as active creators of this new reality, emphasising the power of individual and collective will in shaping the future. The Unfinished Revolution: A Call for Collective Resistance Sikhakhane's speech was infused with urgency, quoting Revolution by Okri. 'They live as if everything is settled in the world. But nothing is settled. Not our dreams, nor our fears, nor the boundary between things. 'The land is not settled, nor the realm of sleep, nor the deep mines where our fathers weep, nor the deep wells where mothers call out our names. 'Those steel walls never kept out the eyes of hunger, which wander the world like thunder.' He called for active resistance against systemic injustice. 'Join me for the redemption of the people of God - whose humanity has been devoured by the cold hearts of leaders,' he implored. 'Let us create a new world where all humanity matters, where the sub-human status of African people is erased from history, never to be resurrected as ghosts to haunt future generations.' A Poetic and Prophetic Vision for Liberation Sikhakhane's closing words were poetic, invoking his own words and Margaret Walker's For My People. 'Let the new earth rise. Let another world be born. Let a bloody peace be written in the sky. Let a second generation full of courage issue forth, Let a people-loving freedom come to growth, let a beautiful healing and a strength of final clenching be the pulsing in our spirits and our blood.'
NZ Herald
27-04-2025
- Entertainment
- NZ Herald
Inside the best family resorts on Australia's Gold Coast
Paradise Resort - Best for Young Families If your children are under 8, then you have my sympathies. I've been there; it's tough. The good news is that Paradise Resort is built with you in mind. Positioned a short pram push from the beach and tram, it features four wings of themed rooms that circle an inner activity hub like a mother's embrace. Our Dusty Digs Deluxe room was bright, clean and spacious, with plenty of room for two queen beds and a cot. The balcony provides a parent retreat and a dumping spot for wet costumes. There's no bath, but there is a family-friendly kitchenette with its own sink, fridge, microwave and utensils. It's the facilities and endless activities that make this resort a blast. There are two waterparks, a pool, hot tub, generously-sized kids club, laser tag, arcades, jungle gym, rides (like a train and carousel) and even an ice rink. Meanwhile, activities like trivia, dance-offs, teddy-bear stuffing, pizza making, hair braiding, and more fill the days. It's not overly luxurious, but that's the point. Paradise Resort is where you go if you want to minimise your parenting and let the resort do the work. Where you can enjoy a cocktail without judgment as your 2-year-old throws their pizza in a hissy fit, because everyone is in the same boat. JW Marriott Gold Coast - Best Pool and Food There's plenty more to the JW Marriott than its incredible pool. Sitting a short walk from the beach at the northern end of Surfers Paradise, it manages the near impossible – it's both luxurious and family-focused. As soon as you walk into the foyer, you feel at peace. The opulent entrance is palace-like, dominated by a sweeping royal staircase, thick stonework and exotic art. The food is fantastic, with the seafood buffet and grille at the Critique restaurant an absolute must. While you can indulge in the spa or work up a sweat at the large gym and sports court. Our king room sported a fantastic view, plentiful space, a large bathroom with a bath, luscious beds and a sofa. The kids used an interconnected room with dual doubles, and just as beautiful. But the JW Marriott Gold Coast's highlight feature is its stunning pool. There's a deep saltwater lagoon pool, filled with fish and skirted by sandy beaches. The kids loved fish feeding time, snorkelling and swimming through the rock formations and waterfall. Then there's a separate, heated pool that snakes from within a cave through a sea of sun loungers, linking with hot tubs, river rapids, waterfalls and even a thrilling waterslide. Best of all; it's filled with rugrats living their best lives. RACV Royal Pines – Best for Sporty Families Not all resorts are in the hustle and bustle. RACV Royal Pines sits close enough to the beach to smell the salt, yet well out of the skyscrapers. As you drive up, you'll quickly get a feel for its scale; space is not an issue at RACV. It sits in the heart of three 9-hole golf courses. It has five tennis courts, a driving range, a full-sized football field, a playground and a jumping pillow, too. As well as a large pool, including kid-friendly waterslides, a splash park and a hot tub. As you may have guessed, RACV Royal Pines is a great option for sporty, athletic families. A vibe only enhanced by the incredible gym and scenic walks through the greens. At the end of the day, there are some great on-site restaurants to dine in (Amici was delicious!), and I can also vouch for the fantastic spa with its high-tech treatments. Thankfully, the rooms are more than comfortable, featuring balconies with a great outlook and a huge amount of floor space for kids to run amok. As a bonus, it's close to the theme parks, too. Sea World Resort – Best for Theme Parks There's so much to do on the Gold Coast, but the region will never shake its place as the theme park capital of Australia. The Village Roadshow Theme Park passes offer the best bang for buck, which you can pair with a stay in the Sea World Resort. Sea World Resort literally has a backdoor entrance into the amusement park, allowing an easy back-and-forth for kids. Our sprogs took themselves off some rollercoaster rides and a dolphin encounter (which was amazing), then returned for a feed. How good! The resort is almost entirely filled with families and is built to match. Little kids get a splash park, waterslides and discos, with mascots like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora and SpongeBob wandering around. Bigger kids have a large pool, waterfall, hot tub and games room. The buffet is kid-friendly, notable for its ice cream machine and epic dessert bar, or you can treat yourself to finer dining at Hatsuhana, a teppanyaki experience that blew us away. Many rooms feature family-friendly comforts like a microwave, fridge and space for a rollout bed. Our Broadwater Suite stepped it up a notch with beautiful water views and a living space for parents to retreat to when the kids slept. The Langham Jewel Residences – Best Beachfront You're no doubt wondering which skyscraper gave me that stunning sun rise experience - it was the Langham Jewel Residences. A truly luxurious five-star stay that offers fully-furnished apartments in a resort-like hotel. The building is an architectural marvel, with mind-blowing design curiosities everywhere you look. Our three-bedroom apartment on the 47th floor is easily one of the best rooms I've ever had. It's huge, with multiple bathrooms and balconies, and an open plan living space with a fully-stocked kitchen. You can see why celebrities live here for months! It's the view I'll never forget; the hotel has direct beach access, so the ocean fills your window, but at night, you get a birds-eye view of the city's lights. Little kids have free access to a kids' lounge, filled with playthings and books. There's a beautiful outdoor pool and hot tub that overlooks the beach. Then inside, there's a second magnesium pool that the kids loved, saunas, a spa and a large gym.
