THE furore that accompanied plans to award former president Thabo Mbeki an honorary doctorate at the University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, has died down.
THE furore that accompanied plans to award former president Thabo Mbeki an honorary doctorate at the University of Limpopo, Turfloop Campus, has died down.
The university council will finally announce a firm date for the ceremony that was postponed indefinitely in 2007.
University spokesperson Kgalema Mohuba yesterday said the council would set a final date at its next meeting on March 26.
Mohuba would not be drawn to comment on allegations that there were divergent views among council and senate members about honouring the former president.
"There were people from outside who were uncomfortable with the arrangement and certain structures had threatened to disrupt the occasion," Mohuba said.
The university initially planned to honour Mbeki in 2007 but there were objections because the ANC was heading for its elective conference in Polokwane.
Student organisations and some academics raised concerns that honouring Mbeki would be perceived as giving him an advantage at the expense of his then deputy Jacob Zuma.
The university said it was awarding Mbeki the honorary doctorate in commerce for his contribution to South Africa's economic growth.