“What [is] most intriguing for me [about mental illness] is the concept of despair on one hand – and privilege on the other – nothing seems to insulate any one of our families from this phenomena.”
These are the words of Gauteng High Court Judge Thina Siwendu, this year’s speaker at the second annual Vice Chancellor’s Africa Day lecture at Stellenbosch University (SU).
The talk, titled ‘a mother’s reflection on suicide loss in post-apartheid South Africa’, was held on 30 May at Stellenbosch University Museum. It focused on transgenerational trauma and the prevalence of mental illness in young people.
The evening was hosted by Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, research chair in studies in historical trauma and transformation at SU. It was also attended by Rector Wim de Villiers, Professor Thuli Madonsela and SU Journalism department’s Professor Lizette Rabe.
Madonsela says Siwendu uses her own pain to understand the pain of others, adding that “people who pursue social justice are people who themselves have experienced some type of pain.”
Professor Madonsela talks about Judge Siwendu’s career highlights PHOTO: Sethu Mbuli
Siwendu lost her son to suicide last year, a loss she says no words can describe. She has since used her experience and resources to assist other South African families battling with mental illness through the Yivani Mbali foundation, named after her son.
A young person asks Judge Siwendu a question PHOTO: Sethu Mbuli
On how we can build more connected African communities, Siwendu says “If we don’t roll up our sleeves and resolve [the issue of mental illness], it will cost us immensely from a demography point of view, because if some of us outlive our children – the investment we’ve made in their legacy, and the legacy of our country, is equally compromised.”
Africa Day is on 25 May but Rector Wim De Villiers says the event was held a week later in order to allow the campus community to take part in other celebrations.
Celebrations included one held at the faculty of medicine and health sciences on 24 May. It looked at the role of partnerships in achieving the United Nations’ sustainable development goals (SDGs) including talks on inequity, international collaborations, planetary health and the future of leadership in health care.
Dr Baxolise Selana, who graduated from Stellenbosch University’s MBChB program in 2018 and currently an intern doctor at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Hospital, says African health practitioners must foster collaborations. He add that he wants to see better medical doctor intern training and an end to unhealthy work hours.