About Basil Somhlahlo Foundation

Thank you so much Vuvu. This initiative and project befits Bro Bay’s stature and indeed God will bless you. I remember you so well my girl ukhula e-East Campus. You may not remember me but Ivy Dlamini shared your dream with me. Bro Bay will always be remembered as one of the Proponents of Change and Transformation at UFH, a dedicated Social Worker with a Masters Degree in Social Work from Denver University (USA) and an equivalent of an Honours Degree Diploma from Jan Hofmeyer College in Joburg, where both Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Prof Benny Khoapa studied. You are indeed welcome to this forum Vuvu and we pledge our support in whatever way we can! Bro Bay was a voice of the UFH Black Staff Association and through his efforts and many others like Bro Stoff, Bhut. Tshezi. Bhut. Shep. Mayatula, the white administration was brought to its knees! He will always be remembered as one of the Pillars of Strength which brought about revolutionary changes at UFH, lest people forget! Well done Vuv

During his tenure as a lecturer in the Social Work Department, Basil Somhlahlo appealed to my orientation, thinking, and emotionality much as I was a law student.

Once when i was requested to moderate a visiting lecture, Teboho Saul, Peace Be Upon Him, stood to contribute to the visitor and keynote.

At the occasion of his contribution, Somhlahlo chipped into Teboho and chopped him to pieces.

I can still hear his voice and eloquence “Tebu said…Tebu quotes Skinner, Mesmer and Pavlov. What do you say Teboho?”

I heard most frequently learnt of Somhlahlo’s antics and hilairities from Social Work students.

On the evening and night of the visiting lecture, i witnessed clarity of thought and independent thinking at work and in display.

Outside my own Faculty of Law, Basil Somhlahlo was one of my most scintilating and organic lecturers.

I’ll be keen on supporting the foundation spiritually, emotionally, mentally, physically and socially.

Vuvu, when I shared all this beautiful information with Sis Pat “Nonkululeko ngabula Tatakho ke” Mabeta Mabuya” she was so thrilled that you’re doing this! When I asked if I should share her message here, she said “I don’t mind you sharing this in this forum that is keeping Basil’s memory alive because with me, BASIL STILL LIVES!” That is the person he worked with for many, many years at UFH; umama kaThoko!

Thanks a million for sharing all this information. I cannot tell you how happy I am that Vuvu has seen it fit to keep Basil’s name alive. It took me years to get over his passing for a number of reasons. I was just saying to Thok after reading your last message that if the Foundation is at St James is easily accessible and I will stop by when next I get to Monti. Vuvu was truly the apple of the father’s eye.and was indeed very young when Basil departed. Tshotsho ubekho uhlale ngasemoyeni⭐

Thank you so much Vuvu. This initiative and project befits Bro Bay’s stature and indeed God will bless you. I remember you so well my girl ukhula e-East Campus. You may not remember me but Ivy Dlamini shared your dream with me. Bro Bay will always be remembered as one of the Proponents of Change and Transformation at UFH, a dedicated Social Worker with a Masters Degree in Social Work from Denver University (USA) and an equivalent of an Honours Degree Diploma from Jan Hofmeyer College in Joburg, where both Mrs Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and Prof Benny Khoapa studied. You are indeed welcome to this forum Vuvu and we pledge our support in whatever way we can! Bro Bay was a voice of the UFH Black Staff Association and through his efforts and many others like Bro Stoff, Bhut. Tshezi. Bhut. Shep. Mayatula, the white administration was brought to its knees! He will always be remembered as one of the Pillars of Strength which brought about revolutionary changes at UFH, lest people forget! Well done Vuvu👏🏽👏🏽

Vuvu, when I shared all this beautiful information with Sis Pat “Nonkululeko ngabula Tatakho ke” Mabeta Mabuya” she was so thrilled that you’re doing this! When I asked if I should share her message here, she said “I don’t mind you sharing this in this forum that is keeping Basil’s memory alive because with me, BASIL STILL LIVES!” That is the person he worked with for many, many years at UFH; umama kaThoko! 👇🏽👇🏽

Basil Somhlahlo, the indispensable teacher. I met this extraordinary being in 1991 as a first-year student. He was a parent to us, as we were transiting from a more restricted circle of learning to a responsibility driven circle. It was difficult for most of us to understand his style and method of teaching. We have been going on with this man handholding us towards prosperity. He always encouraged his cadre of students to think wide and be relevant to the environment we are in.
He was a source of inspiration, I remember this dark-skinned guy with his Elcano cigarette in his mouth, wear this academic gown written at the back “Umenzi”. Trying to conceptual the meaning of the word – Umenzi, in English it is a” constructor”. He would bring the attention to us that there is no way that a sociologist and social work practitioner would separate oneself from politics. He would say ‘’ Liberation is but the beginning of a long process of social change and the aim of social is to attain self-determination and a measure of sovereignty as a country. Secondly, the aim of social change should be lay the economic foundation both for the creation and improvement of socio-economic conditions of citizen and in our case the poor and marginalized.
All his utterances tend to resonate in my mind especially this time and era we in.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
We will always remember you Bro Bay, as affectionately known.