It is with a sense of great loss and sadness that the South African Humanities Deans Association (SAHUDA) learnt of the passing of Professor Kgomotso Michael Masemola yesterday evening (19th August 2023). Professor Masemola was the Vice President of SAHUDA and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT). An internationally renowned and highly accomplished literary scholar, Prof Masemola had an NRF B rating and was widely published in top journals in his field. Professor Masemola will be remembered for his dedication to and passion for the advancement of SAHUDA, where his contributions at our meetings were always erudite, incisive, and well considered.
Professor Masemola held a BA and BA Honours from Wits University, an MA from the University of Natal, and a PhD from Sheffield University. Prior to joining VUT in August 2022, Professor Masemola had served in a similar role as Executive Dean of the College of Human Sciences at UNISA. He authored the book South African Autobiography After Deleuze (Brill & RODOPI, 2017), co-edited Strategies of Representation in Auto/biography (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014), and contributed several book chapters and journal articles. He was the project Leader of an NIHSS Interdisciplinary Working Group on Black South African Biography and was involved earlier as an NIHSS Doctoral School Mentor.
Professor Masemola will be remembered and missed by many scholars internationally, some of whom have benefited from his mentorship and support, and the keynote addresses he gave at international conferences. A humble but forceful individual, he was widely respected by many for his sharp intellect, kindness and constructive approach to everyday challenges.
SAHUDA wishes his family, friends and colleagues at VUT strength and comfort as they go through this difficult time.
May Professor Masemola’s Soul Rest in Peace.
