An Open Letter to Professor Jonathan Jansen
26 May 2016
Dear Professor,
I was very saddened to hear that you have resigned as Vice Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State. I found it very hard to swallow. Because I believe you are the man South Africa’s troubled world of academia needs. In fact, it’s not only academia that needs you, I believe the whole South Africa needs you.
We face serious challenges at the moment – unemployment is stubbornly high, especially amongst the youth, poverty, corruption, the failing education system, politicians flout the rule of law, Marxist movements torch our university campuses, racism is alive, crime, and a moribund economy mismanaged by desperate politicians. These are the obstacles impeding our economic growth, and the great minds like you are the people we run to for solutions to overcome these challenges.
I have to be frank, in times of hopelessness about the state of our nation, I always run to The Times newspaper to look for your weekly column so I read your opinions. That’s not to say I always agree with you, but most of what you write always makes me think. And I’m sure there are millions of South Africans who would say the same thing.