The Resignation of Dr. Malesela John Lamola

[ooyowe]

Dear PSSA Members,


We wish to bring to the attention of the Philosophical community that the PSSA Executive Committee received a letter of resignation from Dr. Malesela John Lamola. 

In the letter, Dr. Lamola expressed his reluctance and sadness at resigning from the organisation. He said his hope that 'the PSSA will be a site of struggle for the engagement of the rise of the growing frustration among black members of the academy at the continued patterns of racial and class marginalisation in our society and work-life' was 'so rudely dashed' and that 'the PSSA revealed itself as uncomfortable with confronting the issue of racism.' 

We have since responded to the letter. In our response, we acknowledged the issues raised by Dr. Lamola and unreservedly apologised for the role the PSSA has played in the racial marginalisation of its members. We assured Dr. Lamola of our hope to develop a plan for transforming the PSSA in ways that will enable it to meaningfully represent the philosophical community in Southern Africa and its Constitutional commitments, within the six-month period specified at the AGM. We also extended an invitation to Dr. Lamola to work with us in building a more just and nonracial community for philosophers.

Kind regards, 

OA Oyowe