– Russel Botman
18 October 1943 – 28 June 2014
Russel Botman, who held positions as professor and dean in theology, was the first and only black rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University after being the second black deputy vice-chancellor. As minister of the Dutch Reformed Mission Church, he was always a steadfast leader toward unity in the Uniting Church of Southern Africa. He was an “academic by nomination”, called upon in higher education in ethics, missiology and public theology.
Learn about the team behind the Russel Botman Bursary Foundation and how their experience impacts the vision.
The Russel Botman Bursary Fund committee members would like to sincerely thank all the donors that have contributed over the years.
This lecture is arranged on or close to the birthday of Russel Botman (18 October) at the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University
Russel Botman Bursary Fund launched on the 18th of October 2013 – on his 60th birthday. Botman asked guests to contribute to the bursary fund instead of giving personal gifts and as such the first donations to the fund came from the invited guests of his 60th birthday celebrations.
The celebratory volume relates the life story of the late Russel Botman from his earliest childhood until his last day as rector and vice-chancellor of Stellenbosch University.
The various tributes start with Botman’s youth and student years. Other aspects of his life portrayed include his church involvement, academic teaching, research, local and international university management, memorial reflection and a personal view.
“The nature of the tributes and celebratory volumes is that they can never be exhaustive. It tells a rich story from limited perspectives. However, it serves as an invitation, stimulus and inspiration to others connected to Botman to tell their stories about his story. If this volume fulfils that role, it has served its purpose.”
Beryl Botman collected and donated personal documents and books to the Faculty of Theology, Stellenbosch University. The books are mostly kept in the faculty library and others in the Gericke Library. The documents include his profile, sermons, speeches, articles and notes. All of these were categorised and are kept at the archive of the Beyers Naude Centre for Public Theology where they are available for use.
The sudden passing of Prof. Russel Botman, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of Stellenbosch University, on 28 June 2014, left us with initial shock and despair. We realised very quickly that despair is no place to dwell in if we take his life and works into serious consideration and reflection.
Freedom is hardly ever free, not given but fought for. This is also the case in the freedom that the decades of resistance before 1994, in particular, brought. They were decades and yes, historically, centuries of strife and resistance.
One of the markers of the transformative leadership by Prof Russel Botman is the steadfast movement toward an equitable, equal, open, and welcoming culture at
The late Prof Russel Botman was passionate about creating opportunities for deserving students to gain access to higher education. And it is this legacy that Stellenbosch University will continue to honour – with your help.
Prof Botman established the Russel Botman Bursary Fund (RBBF) on his 60th birthday on 18 October 2013 – requesting friends, family and colleagues to contribute to the Fund in lieu of gifts. This Bursary Fund now gives each one of us the opportunity to help make his dream of creating a better future for the next generation, a reality.
Prof Hayman Russel Botman did not only make a positive difference in Stellenbosch but was highly-regarded in higher education circles the world over.
Russel Botman Bursary Fund © 2018. All rights reserved
