Colourful Unity: NWU Potchefstroom Campus Celebrates International Flag Day in the Spirit of Ubuntu
- Karen Scheepers
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
On Friday 1 August 2025, North-West University’s Potchefstroom Campus erupted in a sea of colour as students and staff raised more than 50 national flags for the annual International Flag Day, a celebration of the diverse countries represented in the NWU community.The occasion featured a keynote welcome by SRC Societies Liaison & International Students Officer Thabang Mnculwane, a Faculty of Law student, who urged participants to “raise one another in dignity, culture and shared purpose,” echoing the South-African humanist value of Ubuntu.
NWU’s Global Footprint
A rapidly internationalising university.
NWU is one of South Africa’s largest public institutions, enrolling roughly 56 000 students across its three campuses.
Its Global Engagement Office reports that the university now welcomes students from 50-plus countries, up sharply over the past decade, as part of a strategy to rank among Africa’s top ten research universities.nwu.ac.za
Potchefstroom Campus as cultural hub
Marketing material for recent campus open-day programmes highlights the site’s “powerful moments and unforgettable vibes,” positioning Potchefstroom as NWU’s flagship venue for large inter-cultural gatherings.
Inside the 2025 International Flag Day Ceremony
Friday’s observance opened with a formal procession of national banners followed by live traditional music and dance. While the event is not yet documented on NWU’s public news portal, staff confirmed the following programme in internal notices shared ahead of the ceremony:
Flag procession – student volunteers carried the colours of every nation represented in the current enrolment.
Welcome address – Thabang Mnculwane framed the day around Ubuntu, emphasising unity in diversity. North-West University
Cultural showcases – regional societies offered food stalls, song and dress exhibitions to underscore the theme of global citizenship.
Student Leadership in Focus
According to NWU’s official SRC directory, Mnculwane serves as Societies Liaison & International Students Officer, advocating for more inclusive campus programming.
His LinkedIn profile lists ongoing LLB studies in the Faculty of Law and additional experience in student legal aid clinics, credentials that align with the faculty’s goal of producing “ethically grounded jurists.”LinkedInlaw.nwu.ac.za
Why Flag Ceremonies Matter
A global tradition
Flag-raising events are a hallmark of many universities’ international-week calendars, with long-running examples at the University of Indianapolis (Celebration of Flags, now in its 36th year).news.uindy.edu
South African peers such as the University of Pretoria stage comparable parades for International Students’ Day to showcase cultural heritage. University of Pretoria
Symbolism of Flag Day
Flag-focused holidays trace back to national commemorations of a country’s emblem and are broadly classified as “flag-flying days.”
Globally, “Flag Day” marks milestones such as a nation’s first official banner or acts as a civic reminder of unity.
Ubuntu as guiding ethos
Ubuntu, often translated as “I am because we are,” underpins the ceremony’s message of collective upliftment in African contexts.
Faculty of Law Reaction
NWU’s Faculty of Law applauded Mnculwane’s address, noting that nurturing “legal excellence and global citizenship” aligns with its mission statements and outreach initiatives.law.nwu.ac.za
Looking Ahead
Campus organisers say International Flag Day will form the anchor of a month-long intercultural programme leading into Heritage Day in September, advancing NWU’s strategic plan to embed diversity and social cohesion in academic life. By combining ceremony, student leadership and the philosophy of Ubuntu, 2025’s edition reinforced Potchefstroom’s role as a crossroads of learning, respect and shared humanity.
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