By Phenyo Selinda
South Africa is in mourning following the death of Professor Noel Chabani Manganyi, a distinguished academic, psychologist, and public servant, who passed away on Tuesday, 31 October 2024, at the age of 84.
Professor Manganyi’s career was marked by numerous groundbreaking achievements. He was the first Black South African to qualify as a clinical psychologist, earning his doctorate in 1970 with a thesis titled “Body Image in Paraplegia.” His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1962, followed by an Honours in Psychology in 1964 and a master’s degree in 1968. He furthered his studies with a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University’s School of Medicine in the United States from 1973 to 1975. 
In the 1970s and 1980s, Professor Manganyi published several influential works, including “Being-Black-in-the-World” (1973) and “Alienation and the Body in Racist Society” (1977). These publications provided profound insights into the Black experience under apartheid, exploring themes of alienation and identity. 
His academic contributions extended beyond psychology. He authored biographies of prominent South African figures such as Es’kia Mphahlele, Gerard Sekoto, and Dumile Feni, highlighting their lives and contributions to South African culture and history. 
Professor Manganyi’s impact was also felt in higher education administration. He served as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the North (now the University of Limpopo) and later as Vice-Principal of the University of Pretoria. In 1994, he was appointed as the first Director-General of the Department of Education in post-apartheid South Africa, playing a pivotal role in transforming the nation’s education system. 
His contributions were recognized with numerous accolades, including an Honorary Fellowship from the Psychological Society of South Africa in 2012, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Research Foundation in 2016, and the Humanities Book Award from the Academy of Science of South Africa in 2018. 
In 2023, Nelson Mandela University conferred upon him an Honorary Doctorate in Psychology, acknowledging his significant contributions to the field and his role in advancing Black consciousness and identity. 
Professor Manganyi’s legacy is further cemented by his memoir, “Apartheid and the Making of a Black Psychologist” (2016), which offers a personal account of his experiences and challenges during apartheid, providing valuable insights into the era’s socio-political landscape. 
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande, expressed deep sorrow at Professor Manganyi’s passing, highlighting their shared backgrounds in psychology and activism against apartheid. He described Professor Manganyi as “one of the most eloquent and deeply thoughtful intellectuals spawned by the Black consciousness movement,” noting that his writings remain profoundly relevant.
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