Übung Neueste Geschichte: Crossing the Rubicon: South African History through Five Points of No-Return (Robert Uys, Azola Mtsali & Kabelo Mafora)

Instructors: apl. Prof. Dr. Jörg Rogge
Shortname: Ü.Neueste.Ges.
Course No.: 07.068.205
Course Type: Übung

Contents

Lecture series presented by Robert Uys, Azola Mtsali & Kabelo Mafora
In 1985, South Africa’s State President, P.W. Botha, delivered his infamous “Crossing the Rubicon” speech. It was televised to an audience of more than 200 million people worldwide.
Anti-apartheid activists hoped that this would be the moment when the National Party finally agreed to cede power, release Nelson Mandela, and permit Black-majority rule. Instead, Botha insisted that it was too late for South Africa to abandon its apartheid policies and that the country had already crossed the metaphorical Rubicon. As a result, South Africa became increasingly isolated internationally; its strongest allies, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, distanced themselves from the regime; boycotts of South African products intensified and economic collapse appeared inevitable.
South Africa’s past is often defined by a series of such Rubicons—moments that represented points of no return. This lecture series is organised around five themes, each introduced through an important date and turning point in South Africa’s history. This lecture series will contextualise the events and processes that culminated in these moments of profound historical significance. In this way, some of the most important developments in South Africa’s past will be examined.

Additional information

The lecturers who will be visiting JGU will be:
• Robert Uys [PhD (University of the Western Cape), MA (UWC), BA Hons. (University of South Africa), & BA (University of Cape Town)]
• Kabelo Mafora [BA (North-West University), BA Hons. (NWU), MA in Progress (NWU)]
• Azola Mtsali [BA (NWU), BA Hons. (NWU), MA in Progress (NWU)]

Dates

Date (Day of the week) Time Location
10/26/2026 (Monday) 10:15 - 17:45 00 001 Infobox
1222 - Ausstellungs-Pavillion
10/27/2026 (Tuesday) 10:15 - 14:00 00 161 (K9) Übungsraum
9139 - Am Kisselberg
10/28/2026 (Wednesday) 10:15 - 17:45 00 001 Infobox
1222 - Ausstellungs-Pavillion
10/29/2026 (Thursday) 10:15 - 17:45 00 001 Infobox
1222 - Ausstellungs-Pavillion
10/30/2026 (Friday) 10:15 - 17:45 00 001 Infobox
1222 - Ausstellungs-Pavillion