With his retirement date nearing next month, Professor Pieter Labuschagne from the Department of Political Sciences in the College of Human Sciences delivered his valedictory lecture entitled Rationality and the reasonable person: the rise of the political functionary.

Having introduced the valedictory lecture during his tenure as CoD as a rite of passage for retiring academic staff in the department, it was now Professor Labuschagne’s turn to take to the podium addressing his colleagues, family and friends. His lecture was based on the importance of balance in a political system, something that has always intrigued him.

“It’s an almost instinctive ability in social sciences for an organic or a synthetic (man-made) state to correct or balance itself against an objective standard to regain equilibrium. In all my studies – in Political Science and in Law – the notion of balance in a political system formed a central concept,” he said, adding that in all socio-political arrangements there are always this strong inclination to reach or maintain a balance – an equilibrium.

“In many instances the balance or equilibrium is established by the adopting of an external universal set of objective and normative standards to counterbalance the subjective nature of executive power. This universal set of objective values and normative standards to counterbalance political power could display various forms and permutations – it could be religion – natural law – man made law – constitutions. In this political and societal relationship, the WHO is counterbalanced by the WHAT – the who versus the what – not who is right, but what or which values is right.”

Therefore, the aim of his lecture was to look at this counterbalance – namely the objective benchmark employed to counterbalance the predominant subjective nature of politics.   The structural framework that underpinned his lecture was to look at the concept political power/authority. “The question is, how you deal with the problem of power; the solution is to fragment power – to slice it in smaller parts; and then to put counterweights in place to balance any possible overconcentration of power such as the separation of power and the rule of law.”

Following the lecture, Professor Labuschagne, who has worked at Unisa for 29 years, had nothing but praise for this institution, thanking everyone who has supported him throughout. “My lack of command of the English language prevents me from fully expressing how much this university has built me as a human being. I retire with a sense of satisfaction. There is nothing I can say against Unisa; there is only gratitude in my heart for this university. There is no other institution I would have liked to have worked at. Going forward when people ask me what I used to do, I will proudly tell them I was a CoD at Unisa.”

Professor Dirk Kotze, also from the Department of Political Sciences, who was the respondent to the lecture, thanked Professor Labuschagne for his contributions to the department and wished him a blessed and fruitful retirement. “I have lived through some of the tumultuous moments of South African history and I am lucky to have had colleagues like Professor Labuschagne to share them with.”

The Department’s chair, Dr Thabisi Hoeane, also wished Professor Labuschagne well and praised him for his ability to maintain producing a high level of research outputs, even when he was CoD. “I also always marvelled at how he engages people in both formal and informal conversations. It’s a unique trait that makes people feel very welcome in the department. I want to thank you Professor Labuschagne and I want to assure you we will build on all the efforts you have put into the Department of Political Sciences.”

Colleagues, family and friends of Prof. Pieter Labuschagne from the Department of Political Sciences (seated third from right) attended his valedictory lecture.

* By Rivonia Naidu-Hoffmeester (CHS communications and marketing)