It is with immense sorrow that Rhodes University mourns the passing of Professor Peter Tshobisa Mtuze. Professor Mtuze was a towering figure in South African academia, literature, and the Anglican Church, whose contributions profoundly enriched the cultural and intellectual landscape of the nation. An Old Rhodian, former President of Convocation, and a recipient of the University's highest honour, an Honourary Doctorate, his loss is deeply felt by the entire Rhodes University community and beyond.
Born in Middelburg, Eastern Cape, in 1941, Professor Mtuze’s life was a testament to dedication, scholarship, and service. His academic journey saw him achieve remarkable heights, including a Bachelor of Arts in Translation from Rhodes University in 1980, followed by an Honours degree and a Master of Arts in African Languages from UNISA. He further distinguished himself by earning two PhDs – one in African Languages from the University of Cape Town and another in Theology from UNISA.
Professor Mtuze’s career was marked by a series of pioneering achievements. In 1988, he made history by becoming the first-ever black professor at Rhodes University, where he served with distinction as the Head of the isiXhosa Department. He later took on additional leadership roles, including Deputy Registrar, before his retirement from the University in 2006. Even after retirement, his passion for literature and publishing led him to serve as a Publisher for Vivlia Publishers until 2013.
A prolific and celebrated author, Professor Mtuze published more than 30 creative and academic works spanning novels, short stories, poetry, drama, essays, autobiography, literary guides, translations, and cultural and religious academic papers. His writings, deeply rooted in his experiences as an umXhosa living through periods of significant socio-political and economic transition in the Eastern Cape, offered invaluable insights into the human condition. Among his most notable literary achievements was his masterful translation of former President Nelson Mandela's monumental autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, into isiXhosa as Indlela ende eya enkululekweni. His novel uDingezweni (1971) is considered a literary classic, and his 2014 novel Iingada Zibuyile Endle garnered several awards.
Beyond his literary and academic pursuits, Professor Mtuze was a dedicated Anglican priest and canon in the Diocese of Grahamstown, serving as the rector of the parish of St. Andrew Ginsberg and St. James Peddie, and as the Archdeacon of East London, West. His commitment to language and culture extended to his roles as General Secretary of the Xhosa Language Board, a member of the Xhosa Dictionary Advisory Board at Fort Hare, and an advisor on literature for the African Languages Association. His immense contributions were recognised with numerous accolades, including the Bertram's VO/Skotaville literature award and an honour from the Eastern Cape government for his lifetime’s work in 2015. In 2022, the University of Johannesburg celebrated his life and work.
Rhodes University was privileged to bestow upon him an honorary Doctor of Letters (DLitt) in 2018, acknowledging his unparalleled contributions to African languages and literature, and his profound impact on the academic community. During his life, Professor Mtuze was widely remembered by his colleagues as "kind and a consummate gentleman." He was consistently described as honest, forthright, humble, and deeply committed to the greater good – qualities that made him a role model for countless individuals.
Professor Peter Tshobisa Mtuze’s legacy will live on through his extensive body of work, his pioneering role in academia, and the countless lives he touched as a scholar, mentor, and spiritual guide. Rhodes University extends its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable life. He will be profoundly missed but never forgotten. Lala ngoxolo Tata Mtuze.