Gerrit Bester
In the world of music and education, where passion and dedication often intersect, Dr Rostislava Pashkevitch-Ngobeni shines as a beacon of inspiration.
A consummate pianist who leads the Department of Performing Arts, Faculty of Arts and Design at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) with vision and grace, she was recently honoured with the Amaqhawe - Our Heroes Achiever's Award.
This prestigious recognition not only celebrates her exceptional talent, but also highlights the remarkable journey she has taken both personally and professionally.
The award, presented by Zee Entertainment, aims to recognise the exemplary journeys of 'unsung heroes' or everyday people who do extraordinary things and are an inspiration to communities and countries.
Criteria for the award include Going above and beyond the call of duty and not just within the requirements of a standard job, sustainability of efforts, level of dedicated service to the community, impact on the broader community (local, provincial, national, international) and sacrifices made, e.g., family life, apartheid era harassment, etc.
Asked what this recognition means to her, Pashkevitch-Ngobeni says: “I believe that my purpose in life is not only the things I do; it is the things that happen to others when I do what I do. It is how I make people feel and remember me by doing what I do. It is the experience I leave in their lives. It is heart-warming receiving such prestigious recognition and being given the title of a hero. It inspires me to do more and more every day to inspire and advocate for the immense power Performing Arts have to change lives and to make the world a better place for all of us and for the generations ahead. Be kind to each other, respect each other and believe in yourself!”
Pashkevitch-Ngobeni's journey will be aired on Zee TV's Amaqhawe - Our Heroes programme in September, following a film shoot on the Arts Campus in July where she was interviewed. Her son Christopher; Prof Nalini Moodley, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design; and staff and students from the Department of Performing Arts will also be featured in the programme.
Other recipients of 2024 Amaqhawe - Our Heroes Achiever's Awards include Tankiso Moloi, Professor of Accounting at the University of Johannesburg; Doctor Mbatha, who is associated with significant contributions to the isiZulu language, including involvement in the development of the isiZulu monolingual dictionary; and Victor Sithole, a South African multi-instrumentalist known for his work with over 26 traditional instruments.