South African ambassador to visit campus

Barbara Masekela, South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, will join U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold in a panel discussion at the Law School on Friday, March 11, marking the 10th anniversary of the South African constitution.

The forum, at 4 p.m. in Room 2260 at the Law School, is titled “Building New Nations: The South African and United States Stories and Lessons for the 21st Century.” It will feature Masekela, Feingold and John Kaminski, UW–Madison history professor and director of the Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution and Bill of Rights Project.

The discussion, which is free and open to the public, will be moderated by Law School Professor Heinz Klug, an expert in South African law. A public reception will follow the discussion.

Masekela has led South Africa’s diplomatic delegation here since being appointed ambassador by President Thabo Mbeki in 2003.

Masekela, a former chief of staff to Nelson Mandela, also served as ambassador to France and the UNESCO under Mandela’s administration. She retired in March 2003 as executive director of public and corporate affairs for De Beers Consolidated Mines, prior to taking the ambassadorship.

The panel discussion is sponsored by the Laurie Carlson Progressive Ideas Forum, created by the family of the late founder of the State Progressive Party.