Category Archive:South Africa

South Africa: Humanness as a Means of Giving

sduncan post on February 22nd, 2016
Posted in South Africa

By Charlene Sutherland

In South Africa, giving is high among those of wealth and power but it extends beyond the rich

giving. Even those who have little that they can give in monetary value or goods are able to give

through their time and in some cases, hospitality. This rooted want to do for others is based on

the idea of humanness, also known as Ubuntu. Ubuntu guides many of the philanthropic actions

of others in South Africa and is considered one of two main reasons those in South Africa do

good works for others in the form of giving (Barclay’s Wealth, 2010).

What is Ubuntu?

Humanness, also known as Ubuntu in Zulu, is the idea that “I am because you are” (Mofid,

2012) or the idea that one is connected to others. This philosophy instills the idea that man

cannot function without others in their lives. Humanness in this capacity instills the moral values

of empathy, sympathy, togetherness, brotherhood, equality, sharing, compassion, respect,

tolerance, harmony, redistribution, obedience and happiness (Broodryk, 2006).

The Story of Ubuntu

One of the stories of Ubuntu that can be found is that of an anthropologist who was studying an

African tribe. The children in the tribe were tasked with getting a singular candy at the top of the

tree and when the children went to the tree, they went together. Perplexed by this, he asked

“Why did you go together?” and the children responded, “Ubuntu.” The children then split the

candy into pieces, each child eating their fair share. This represents both the spirit and the nature

of what Ubuntu means in that specific culture.

Ubuntu in Action Today

As of January 2013 one of South Africa’s richest men, Patrice Motsepe, has signed a pledge to

turn over half of his fortune to the poor, donating it to the Motsepe Foundation. This money that

he is donating will be used to provide for the poor, those who are unemployed, women, youth,

those who are disabled and workers (Tau, 2013). Patrice explained to those in attendance that his

influence came from Bill and Melinda Gates, his family and Ubuntu. Ubuntu was a philosophy

his family kept as well and Patrice cited that his mother used to give food to those who were

poor at the store that the family owned as well as how his family helped pay for the education of

children who were less fortunate (Tau, 2013). His actions showcased both philosophically

culturally how important Ubuntu had become to the people of South Africa as children are both

brought up seeing it happen and then have a chance to participate, either as adults or children, in

the spirit of it.

Works Cited

Barclay’s Wealth. (November 2010). Global Giving: The Culture of Philanthropy. Retrieved

from http://www.barclayswealth.com/Images/Global-Giving-the-Culture-of-

Philanthropy.pdf

Broodryk, J. (October 12-17th, 2006). Ubuntu African Life Coping Skills Theory and Pratice.

Retrieved from http://www.topkinisis.com/conference/CCEAM/wib/index/outline/

PDF/BROODRYK%20Johann.pdf

Mofid, K. (July 14th, 2012). ‘UBUNTU': “I am because we are”- The true path to true

happiness. Retrieved from http://www.gcgi.info/blog/237-ubuntu-qi-am-because-we-

areq-the-true-path-to-true-happiness

Tau, P. (January 31st, 2013). Billionaire prepares ubuntu will legacy. Retrieved from

http://www.iol.co.za/the-star/billionaire-prepares-ubuntu-will-legacy-

1.1461691#.URBEhaVpeHI

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Patrice Motsepe and the southern African tradition of Ubuntu/Botho

sduncan post on February 22nd, 2016
Posted in South Africa

By Johnathan Bunce

African philanthropy has been in the news recently, with the January 30, 2013

announcement that South African’s richest black citizen, Patrice Motsepe, will be

giving away half of his family’s wealth during his and his wife Precious Motsepe’s

lifetimes. This announcement was greeted with interest in North America, as

Reuters reported that Motsepe is the first African philanthropist to sign up for The

Giving Pledge. Founded in 2010 by leading U.S. philanthropists Warren Buffett and

Bill Gates, The Giving Pledge is “an effort to invite the wealthiest individuals and

families in America to commit to giving the majority of their wealth to the

philanthropic causes and charitable organizations of their choice either during their

lifetime or after their death.”

The Founder and Executive Chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, a mining

company with interests in gold, platinum, coal and ferrous metals, the 51-year-old

Motsepe, whose personal worth is estimated at R22.99 billion ($2.58 billion CAD),

said he was inspired not only by Buffet and Gates’ initiative but also by southern

African traditions of generosity. In a press release announcing his pledge, Motsepe

stated, “South Africans are caring, compassionate and loving people. It has always

been part of our culture and tradition to assist and care for less fortunate and

marginalised members of our communities. This culture is also embodied in the

spirit and tradition of Ubuntu/Botho.”

Ubuntu is variously defined as a southern African humanism, philosophy,

worldview, ethic or personal quality. Danish philosopher Christian B.N. Gade’s

investigations showed references to Ubuntu began appearing in written sources in

1846, though until the mid-1900s, it was only used to define a human quality, before

being applied more broadly to describe a philosophy or worldview. More recently,

ubuntu was discussed considerably during transition from white minority to black

majority rule in South Africa and Zimbabwe in the 1990s, and that “it was during the

period from 1993 to 1995 that the Nguni proverb ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’

(often translated as ‘a person is a person through other persons’) was used for the

first time to describe what Ubuntu is.”

At its core, Ubuntu is the recognition that all people are interconnected and that no

one exists in isolation.8 As the Nguni proverb suggests, in Ubuntu we discover our

own selfhood through other people – through community, collaboration and co-

operation; through openness, kindness and generosity towards others. Prominent

South African public figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former

President Nelson Mandela have both expressed admiration for the Ubuntu

philosophy. In his 1999 book No Future, No Forgiveness, Tutu said: “A person with

Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened

that others are able and good, based from a proper self-assurance that comes from

knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others

are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.”

While Ubuntu is a word in the Bantu language, Botho is the Botswanan word for the

same concept in the Tswana language.

The generous spirit of Ubuntu can also be seen expressed in the philanthropic work

of the Ubuntu Institute, who work towards the eradication of HIV/AIDS and poverty,

the empowerment of women and providing access to education in Africa9, and the

Trust Africa Foundation, concerned with securing the conditions for democracy and

cultivating African development, enterprise and properity, “through collaboration

and partnerships with like-minded institutions and donors.”

Works Cited

Press release: “Motsepe gives half to the poor.” Motsepe Foundation. 30 January 2013.

http://www.themotsepefoundation.org/media-room/press-releases/2013/motsepe-gives-half-to-the-poor-01-

30-2013

Lakmidas, Sherilee. “First South African billionaire donates fortune to poor.” Reuters. 30 January 2013.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/01/30/us-sfarica-motsepe-idUKBRE90T0SF20130130

“About” page. The Giving Pledge. http://givingpledge.org/ 3 February 2013.

Corporate summary. ARM Annual Report 2009.

http://www.arm.co.za/im/files/annual/2009/pdf/homepage/corporate_summary.pdf

Volgraaff, René. “No problems for the rich as they get richer.” Times Live (Johannesburg). 4 September 2011.

http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2011/09/04/no-problems-for-the-rich-as-they-get-richer

Press release: “Motsepe gives half to the poor.”

Gade, Christian B.M. “The Historical Development on the Written Discourses on Ubuntu.” Department of

Philosopy and History of Ideas, Aarhus University, Denmark. 2011. Kearns, Ann. “Ubuntu: A South African perspective of philanthropy.” Global Giving Resource. 29 January 2013.

http://www.globalgivingresource.com/blog/category/south-africa/

Ubuntu Institute. http://ubuntuinstitute.com/ 3 February 2013.

Trust Africa. http://www.trustafrica.org, 3 February 2013.

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Patrice Motsepe and the southern African tradition of Ubuntu/Botho

sduncan post on January 29th, 2015
Posted in South Africa Tags: ,

By Jonathan Bunce

African philanthropy has been in the news recently, with the January 30th announcement that South African’s richest black citizen, Patrice Motsepe, will be giving away half of his family’s wealth during his and his wife Precious Motsepe’s lifetimes. This announcement was greeted with interest in North America, as Reuters reported that Motsepe is the first African philanthropist to sign up for The Giving Pledge. Founded in 2010 by leading U.S. philanthropists Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, The Giving Pledge is “an effort to invite the wealthiest individuals and families in America to commit to giving the majority of their wealth to the philanthropic causes and charitable organizations of their choice either during their lifetime or after their death.”
The Founder and Executive Chairman of African Rainbow Minerals, a mining company with interests in gold, platinum, coal and ferrous metals, the 51-year-old Motsepe, whose personal worth is estimated at R22.99 billion ($2.58 billion CAD), said he was inspired not only by Buffet and Gates’ initiative but also by southern African traditions of generosity. In a press release announcing his pledge, Motsepe stated, “South Africans are caring, compassionate and loving people. It has always been part of our culture and tradition to assist and care for less fortunate and marginalised members of our communities. This culture is also embodied in the spirit and tradition of Ubuntu/Botho.”

Ubuntu is variously defined as a southern African humanism, philosophy, worldview, ethic or personal quality. Danish philosopher Christian B.N. Gade’s investigations showed references to Ubuntu began appearing in written sources in 1846, though until the mid-1900s, it was only used to define a human quality, before being applied more broadly to describe a philosophy or worldview. More recently, ubuntu was discussed considerably during transition from white minority to black majority rule in South Africa and Zimbabwe in the 1990s, and that “it was during the period from 1993 to 1995 that the Nguni proverb ‘umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu’ (often translated as ‘a person is a person through other persons’) was used for the first time to describe what Ubuntu is.”

At its core, Ubuntu is the recognition that all people are interconnected and that no one exists in isolation. As the Nguni proverb suggests, in Ubuntu we discover our own selfhood through other people – through community, collaboration and co-operation; through openness, kindness and generosity towards others. Prominent South African public figures such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former President Nelson Mandela have both expressed admiration for the Ubuntu philosophy. In his 1999 book No Future, No Forgiveness, Tutu said: “A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, based from a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished, when others are tortured or oppressed.”
While Ubuntu is a word in the Bantu language, Botho is the Botswanan word for the same concept in the Tswana language.

The generous spirit of Ubuntu can also be seen expressed in the philanthropic work of the Ubuntu Institute, who work towards the eradication of HIV/AIDS and poverty, the empowerment of women and providing access to education in Africa, and the Trust Africa Foundation, concerned with securing the conditions for democracy and cultivating African development, enterprise and properity, “through collaboration and partnerships with like-minded institutions and donors.”

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The ubuntu world view: I am because we are

sduncan post on February 5th, 2013
Posted in South Africa Tags: ,

By Stacey Pickering

“No man is an island, entire of itself. Each is a piece of a continent, a part of the main. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind”
​~ Reverend John Donne (in Wanless, 2007)

South Africa is home to nearly 50 million people and is often referred as the “rainbow nation”, because of its rich cultural, linguistic, and religious diversity (Murithi, 2009). Colonization, followed by years of apartheid, Read the rest of this entry >>

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African Ubuntu and Its Influence on South African philanthropy

sduncan post on February 4th, 2013
Posted in South Africa Tags: ,

By Aleksandra D. Nikolic

Today South Africa (SA) is considered “the second-most charitable country, behind the United States.” In the post-Apartheid era wealthy South Africans have become both “Benefactor” and “Volunteer” donors – giving time and money to charities.

The reasons philanthropists in SA give, are varied. However, a belief in the African philosophy of ‘ubuntu’ is said to underlay the need to give. Read the rest of this entry >>

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Ubuntu: A South African perspective of philanthropy

sduncan post on January 29th, 2013
Posted in South Africa Tags: , , ,

By Ann Kearns

Ubuntu is an indigenous South African philosophy that recognizes there is an interconnection between all people and no one person exists in isolation. Every interaction with a person is an opportunity to explore our humanity (Kamwangamalu, Nkonko M. (1999). Ubuntu in South Africa: a sociolinguistic perspective to a Pan –African concept.) At the core of this philosophy is the desire for all persons to live a life that can bring positive change to other people in their family, community, village, city or country.

The history of ubuntu was not scribed like the Torah, etched like Egyptian hieroglyphics or written like the Bible. It is indigenous Read the rest of this entry >>

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