Brian Molefe receives an honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering
Thursday, 02 July 2015: Eskom’s Acting Chief Executive Brian Molefe today received an honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering (DEng) from the prestigious Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), in Glasgow, Scotland. The university decided to bestow the honour on Mr Molefe in November last year, whilst at the helm of Transnet, the state-owned freight logistics company.
In its citation, the university said: “The University Senate seeks to recognise your outstanding leadership of Transnet SOC Ltd in your role as Group Chief Executive, and your commitment to social justice and the provision of opportunities to all through higher education.”
Glasgow Caledonian University is a world-renowned institution and is one of the few places in the world that offers a BSc in Railway Operations Management.
Molefe was seconded to Eskom in April 2015, following four successful years as Group Chief Executive at Transnet. During his time at Transnet, he led the launch of the company’s unprecedented R336-billion capital investment programme, the Market Demand Strategy, with a significant focus on training, especially of engineers.
At a moving ceremony hosted by the university chancellor and 2006 Nobel peace prize winner, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Mr Molefe accentuated on the esprit de corps required by all nations to forge ahead:
“As we stride confidently into the 21st century, the reciprocity and exchange of knowledge between our two nations in this digital age becomes even more important. The relationship that Glasgow Caledonian University has with establishments in South Africa is crucial to forging these ties. We have been able to explore, evaluate and apply innovative and relevant solutions for real-world challenges facing our country. At the same time, we are all being exposed to a wealth of new ideas and approaches in our lives. Both our nations have been enriched by this engagement,” he said.
Mr Molefe also paid tribute to the people of Glasgow for their unstinting support of South Africa during the apartheid era: “Glasgow has always been contrarian in spirit, and we pay tribute to that. It was the first city in the world to award the Freedom of the City to Nelson Mandela in 1981, when much of the western world regarded Mandela as a terrorist. In October 1993, two years after his release from prison, Mandela came to Glasgow to receive the Freedom of the City. Today, we humbly walk in those same giant footsteps that Nelson Mandela took 22 years ago.” Mr Molefe said.
Statement issued by Eskom, July 2 2015
