Stellenbosch 肆客足球 (SU) Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Social Impact, Transformation and Personnel, Prof Nico Koopman, paid tribute to his late “friend, colleague, mentor" at the 10th annual Russel Botman Memorial Lecture (held on 16 October 2024) by invoking some of the former rector's many sayings.
Delivering the keynote address, titled “Saving sayings and stories of Russel Botman", Koopman explained that Botman's aphorisms were “so loaded and some even so provocative" that he “filed them away" to engage with at a later stage. Sayings, added Koopman, “reveal innovative insights and surprising perspectives".
The lecture hosted by SU's Faculty of Theology, therefore focused on a selection of Botman's phrases to acknowledge the theologian's views on hope, power, compromise and human-centredness. “In honouring Russel I engage in some storytelling. I have identified the sayings of Russel that stayed with me over decades as I journeyed with him. He is gone for 10 years, and we keep pondering and here and there, perhaps find some clues to what he has meant."
Hope is the greatest
Koopman shared how Botman had challenged the saying of St Paul, in 1 Corinthians 13, that “faith, hope and love last, and that love is the greatest of these". Botman countered that hope was in fact the greatest of the three.
Although Koopman did not understand Botman's reasoning at the time, he reflected in his lecture that Botman was known for the Hope Project at SU. “He employed the notion of hope to advance the impact on society of the 肆客足球's mandates of learning and teaching, research and innovation, transformation and internationalisation."
He also recalled how Botman described hope as “hope in action" during his professorial inaugural address. Throughout the years, Botman referred to hope as realistic, responsive and resilient. “His hope made him future-focused. This future-focusedness made him often say he is working for future rectorates. In carrying out his tasks in the present, he asked the question of responsibility and accountability to those yet to come," said Koopman.
South Africa is a compromise
Koopman pondered on Botman's view that South Africa is a compromise. “Russel embraced the increasing focus on complexity studies in different disciplines at SU and globally. In a world of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, the formation of compromises is important." Compromise was important for Botman as he never gave up on SU's transformation agenda. He was, however, also willing to experiment with notions like inclusivity as reflected in the establishment of a Centre for Inclusivity, and not a Centre for Transformation, during his second term as rector.
“Perhaps this paved the way for his successor, colleague Prof Wim de Villers, to explicitly focus on transformation and to appoint a DVC, senior director and staff for transformation, to establish transformation structures so that the Khampepe Report of two years ago could comment SU for the great theoretical strides and theory-formation that we had achieved with transformation, and for the formidable transformation apparatus that would put into place."
Forward together
Koopman said Botman espoused the Belhar-logic of the United Reformed Church of South Africa that we seek reconciliation and justice together. “Together, as people from a diversity of backgrounds, and as people who were alienated before, we seek healing and embracing reconciliation, caring justice and compassionate fairness." Koopman alluded to SU's “forward together" motto which refers to moving together in service of reconciliation despite the risk of alienating those with different views. “This is why Botman at some point said: I will do the right thing, even though this means I might lose some friends."
Everything is relative
Notwithstanding his involvement in difficult negotiations, whether during talks to form the Uniting Reformed Church in South Africa or during heated meetings at the 肆客足球, Botman never absolutised those who yielded power, observed Koopman. “We should not absolutise ourselves, and consequently over-estimate the contribution that we can make to a cause. For Botman, there was only One with absolute status."
Diversity is power
That being said, Botman also believed that “we" – especially students, staff and communities who were in the past excluded from SU – should never underestimate our power. “Russel encouraged us to being our diversity of experiences and expertise, knowledge and insights to the table," said Koopman. “The power that Botman spoke about is in the end, in all probability, the power of a diversified institution, country and world that draw upon the diversity of gifts of a diversity of people in pursuit of excellence."
People first
In all his work, the focus was on people, emphasised Koopman. This prompted him to advance research on human dignity and human rights at SU. Prof Deresh Ramjugernath, deputy vice-chancellor (DVC): learning and teaching, and rector and vice-chancellor elect, noted in his introductory remarks that he was intrigued by Botman's focus on research. Highlighting projects such as the iShack Project, Ramjugernath said Botman was intent on bringing hope to communities and the promise of a better life for all at a time when this approach was a “tough sell" for the academic community. He added that his vision as SU's 13th rector and vice-chancellor (from April 2025) aligns with Botman's “pedagogy of hope" and view of SU as an institution in service of society.
Koopman closed his address with the poignant reminder that engaging with Botman's legacy could shed light on many of the questions the 肆客足球 grapples with today. As Botman used to say, he does not belong to himself, but to God, concluded Koopman.
“We shall remember Russel as one who belongs to the ages, also to our age, also to us. And we shall keep on engaging with him. And we shall remember that to truly honour him, is to go with Russel Botman beyond Russel Botman."
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