The South Africa Media Innovation Program (SAMIP) is pleased to announce that the University of the Witwatersrand will be honoring Mandla Langa with an honorary doctorate in Literature during its March graduation season.

Langa recently joined SAMIP’s Advisory Committee as a representative of the Open Society Foundation for South Africa, which is one of the funding organizations behind SAMIP.

Wits University is honoring three individuals, of which Langa is one, for their sterling service to society during its March graduation season.

Langa’s honorary doctorate in Literature is in recognition of his contribution to South African Literature.

“Mandla Langa is one of South Africa’s internationally acknowledged contemporary writers, cultural organizers and a veteran of the national liberation struggle. His biography reveals a complex intertwining between his life-long dedication to the struggles against inhumanity and for freedom, and his persistent courage to engage in critical self-reflection. His national and global stature is an acknowledgment of his immense literary significance and social contribution to South African society.”

His novel The Lost Colours of the Chameleon won the 2009 Commonwealth Writers Prize. In 2009, Mandla also received the Living Legends Award from the City of Durban. During 2010, Mandla was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award from South African Literary Awards. Furthermore, in 2007 Mandla received South Africa’s National Order of Ikhamanga (silver) for his cultural, artistic and journalistic achievements. 

Besides serving on SAMIP’s Advisory Committee, Langa is also the Chairman of Phuthuma Nathi and Multichoice South Africa’s board. Mandla has also served as a board member for Primedia, the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, Contemporary African Music and Arts and Medu Arts and Letters.