Thamsanqa Kambule

Thamsanqa Kambule (15 January 1921 – 7 August 2009) was a South African Mathematician and Educator. He was the first black professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, and was the first black person to be awarded honorary membership to the Actuarial Society of South Africa. He was awarded the Order of the Baobab in 2002 for his services to mathematics education.

Early life and education Kambule was born in Aliwal North. His mother died when he was 18 months old, and his aunt was responsible for raising him. He did not attend school until he was 11 years old, when he joined Anglican St Peter's School in Johannesburg.

Career Kambule taught in Zambia, Malawi as well as several schools in South Africa before being appointed Principal of Orlando High School in Soweto in 1958. His former pupils included Desmond Tutu and Jackie Selebi. In 1976 during the Soweto uprising, the schoolchildren revolted against being forced to learn in the Afrikaans language. An undetermined number of children were shot dead by police, and education in townships fell apart. Kambule resigned in 1977 to protest against the Department of Bantu Education, and became the head of Pace College. He published a series of maths textbooks for non-specialist teachers. He became known as the Rock for his transparent principles.

Kambule died on 7 August 2009. He was a much loved teacher, and his former students Siphiwe Nyanda, Felicia Mabuza-Suttle and Mokotedi Mpshe attended his memorial service. His student Trevor Mdaka was his doctor at the Unitas Hospital in Centurion.