The National Heritage Council of South Africa (NHC) mourns the passing of the renowned, selfless, Heritage expert and academic Professor Muxe Nkondo, who was the recipient of the Ubuntu Honour in the 2022 Golden Shield Heritage Awards.

Professor Muxe Gessler Nkondo was bestowed with Ubuntu Honour for his embodying the ubuntu values, selflessness, dedication and readiness to assist in the Heritage sector whenever he was requested to even during his retirement. His selfless and readiness to assist all the time, earned him this recognition that was bestowed to people like Tata Nelson Mandela, President Kenneth Kaunda, former United Nations Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali, Mirriam Makeba, Winnie Mandela, just to name a few.

Prof MG Nkondo was a heritage thought leader, an avid listener, whose ability to distill the essence of any discursive engagement was almost unparalleled.  He is a co-founder of the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route initiativeaimed at the celebration and commemoration of the liberation struggle’s unsung heroes and heroines.  He spearheaded the development of the nationally acclaimed Heritage Transformation Charter which was on the redress of the past imbalance in the heritage management while at the same time transforming the heritage landscape in South Africa. Prof. Nkondo also made significant contribution to the development of heritage cadreship and of policy-position papers addressing some of the policy gaps in the management of heritage.

He was also part of the Indigenous Knowledge Systems panel, an advisory body for the Sport, Arts, Culture minister on living heritage management. This committee also serves as a review team for the collated information on elements of tangible cultural heritage prior to it being deposited into the  National Inventory Office of South Africa (NIO) managed by the NHC.

“A giant tree with memorabilia on the transformation of the heritage sector has fallen! This is a great loss to the NHC and the sector. The Council is grateful for the well of wisdom which most of us have drank from it, his selflessness and invaluable time that he has lend to the institution the sector at large,” said Dr Thabo Manetsi, Chief Executive Officer of the NHC.

The Council sends its condolences to the Nkondo family, the alumni from the various universities he served in and the Heritage sector at large.  

For Media interviews please email/WhatsApp: Ms. Tebogo Shilakwe: 084 597 8881; Email: t.shilakwe@nhc.org.za.

Issued by the National Heritage Council of South Africa

For media enquiries: Tebogo Shilakwe Execuive: Communication, Marketing & Stakeholder Engagement) at 084 597 8881, t.shilakwe@nhc.org.za