Representative Anthony Ho handed over the documents of the Investiture of honorary degree of Doctor of Laws for Dr. Nelson Mandela conferred by Taiwan’s Soochow University (東吳大學) and a selection of books published by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy to the Nelson Mandela Foundation on 12 April, 2022. Mr. Sello Hatang, Chief Executive, and Ms. Futhi Mtoba, Board of Trustee, of the foundation accepted these documents and books. Dr. Wei-ta Pan, President of Soochow University, and Ms. Angel Y.C.L.Wu, Director of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy attended the event virtually as special guests.
Representative Ho first thanked President Pan of Soochow University and his colleagues for their efforts in preserving the historical materials of Nelson Mandela. It is especially meaningful to be able to hand over these documents nearly 30 years after Mandela visited the university to receive this honorary degree. Mandela visited Taiwan as the leader of the ANC. His visit lays a foundation for the exchange and cooperation between ANC and Taiwan. It also forms a strong bond between Taiwan and South Africa.
Taiwan and South Africa share values of democracy, freedom and human rights, which are also the important values that Mandela was committed to realizing throughout his life.
In order to further share with Taiwan’s progress in democracy with our South African friends, the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy also shared a selection of books and periodicals on Taiwan’s democracy with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. It is hoped that the two organizations can cooperate and exchange in other topics and fields in the future.
Representative Ho concluded his remarks by quoting Mandela's words, and it is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not.” He said Taiwan and South Africa stand in unity because of the shared values of democracy, freedom and human rights, and encouraged everyone to remember Mandela’s spirits and to continue change lives and build a better world.
President Pan of Soochow University said he was honored to attend this handover ceremony. Soochow was the first university in Asia to award an honorary degree to Nelson Mandela. The university highly respects Mandela's contributions to human rights and freedom, therefore it also held events such as marathons and concerts to commemorate Mandela.
Director Wu of the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy said the foundation has deep ties with several South African Nobel Peace Prize winners, including Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and South African former President FW de Klerk. She thanked the Taipei Liaison Office for connecting the two organizations together with this meaningful event.
Mr. Hatang and Ms. Mtoba referred to Taiwan as a good friend and thanked Taiwan’s assistance in providing these documents and the representative office’s efforts in providing scholarship opportunities to South African students.
