​​​The unveiling of a new artwork in front of Stellenbosch University's Ou Hoofgebou (Old Main Building) in Ryneveld Street depicts the SU community's commitment to unity and nation-building.

“We want to unite the University community with symbols that heal the wounds of the past and help us move forward together. And this installation is part of that ongoing process," said Stellenbosch University (SU) Rector and Vice-Chancellor Prof Wim de Villiers at the launch of the artwork on Tuesday (3 November 2020).

Christened The Preamble Art Installation, the artwork comprises three separate metal plates depicting the preamble to the Constitution of South Africa in three languages (Afrikaans, English and Xhosa). Water cutting technology was used to excise the words of the preamble on the plates.

De Villiers said the University was on a journey of renewing its institutional culture. This includes taking a fresh look at what is visually apparent in the spatial layout, visual iconography and visible symbolism on its campuses.

“There was a time when South Africa was isolated in the community of nations because of discriminating and oppressive policies, but no more. We made a peaceful, negotiated transition to democracy and wrote a new Constitution, providing us with a good framework which also guides us as a university community.

“This art installation will serve as a constant reminder of that framework, a constant reminder that we've come a long way, a reminder that our country is a better place and so is our University. But that does not mean we have arrived. To the contrary. It is our task to protect the Constitution and make sure the promises it contains are realised.  Social justice, human rights, quality of life, unity – whether in the country or at our university – the attainment of these ideals remains work in progress. So, we have our work cut out for us … literally!"

The 134-year-old Ou Hoofgebou building houses the Faculty of Law of SU.

Prof Nicola Smit, Dean of the Faculty of Law, said the project was initiated in 2017 as part of the broader visual redress process of the University.

“Discussions started even before the #Feesmustfall student protests, but the need for more urgent progress with this process was certainly underlined by students during these protests.

“Our memories of the past together with this new visual reminder of the aspirations of the people of South Africa, provide us the opportunity to use memory – past and present, individual and collective − to establish, maintain and foster our relations with all people in an inclusive and reflective manner.

 “From the start, it was important that The Preamble of the Constitution will act as a physical link between the public space outside the Ou Hoofgebou and the Faculty of Law, symbolising a society anchored in a constitutional democracy and the importance of access to justice and the realisation of social justice for all."

 The artwork was designed by well-known landscape artist, Strijdom van der Merwe.

“Forty years ago I was a first-year Philosophy student in this very building and I would never have thought that I would make a contribution to transformation at Stellenbosch through my art," he said.

He said dynamic features of the artwork include its transparency and ability to reflect the changing seasons.

The work is one of a range of visual redress projects currently underway on SU's campuses.

Preamble:

We, the people of South Africa,
Recognise the injustices of our past;
Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land;
Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and
Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity.
We therefore, through our freely elected representatives, adopt this Constitution as the supreme law of the Republic so as to-
Heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights;
Lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law;
Improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person; and
Build a united and democratic South Africa able to take its rightful place as a sovereign state in the family of nations.
May God protect our people.
Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika. Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso.
God seën Suid-Afrika. God bless South Africa.

 

IINTSWELO-BULUNGISA ZEXESHA
LETHU ELADLULAYO
SINIKA IMBEKO ABO BEVA UBUNZIMA BEBULALEKA
NGENXA
YOBULUNGISA NENKULULEKO ELIZWENI
LETHU;
SIHLONELA ABO BATHI BASEBENZELA UKWAKHA
NOKUPHUHLISA ILIZWE LETHU; KWAYE
SIKHOLELWA EKUBENI UMZANTSI
AFRIKA NGOWETHU SISONKE THINA BEMI
BAHLALA KUWO, SIMANYENE NANGANI
SINGAFANI NGOKOBUHLANGA
KUNGOKO SINABAMELI ABONYULWA
NGOKUKHULULEKILEYO UKUBA
BAWAMKELE LO MGAQO SISEKO
NJEGOMTHETHO OWONGAMELEYO WERIPHABHLIKI
UKUZE – UNGCIBE IYANTLUKWANO
YANGAPHAMBILI
UKUZE WAKHE ULUNTU OLUSEKELWE
KWIINQOBO EZISEMGANGATHWENI
ZEDEMOKHRASI, UBULUNGISA KWEZENTLALO
NAMALUNGELO ABANTU ASISISEKO;
KUMISELWE ISISEKO SOLUNTU OLUPHILA
NGENDLELA YEDEMOKHRASI NOLWENZA
IZINTO ELUBALA APHO URHULUMENTE
ASEKELWE KWINTANDO YABANTU NALAPHO
WONKE UMMI
EKHUSELWE NGOKULINGANAYO NGUMTHETHO;
UPHUCULE IXABISO LOKUPHILA KUBO BONKE
ABEMI, UZE UVUMELE UKUSEBENZA KWESAKHONO
SOMNTU
NGAMNYE; KANJALO
WAKHE UMZANTSI AFRIKA OMANYENEYO
NONEDEMOKHRASI ONAKHO UKUTHABATHA
INDAWO YAWO
EFANELEKILEYO NJENGELIZWE ELINOBUNGANGA
KUSAPHO LWEZIZWE NGEZIZWE.
WANGA UTHIXO ANGABAKHUSELA ABANTU
BAKOKWETHU.
NKOSI SIKELEL' IAFRIKA.
MORENA BOLOKA SETJHABA SA HESO.