The Centre for Human Rights is saddened to announce the death of our own, Professor Charles Ngwena.  Prof. Ngwena passed away in Pretoria on the 31st of January 2025. 

Prof. Ngwena (fondly known to us as ‘Charles’) was a towering intellectual, academic, an astute scholar, and a wonderful colleague by any measure.  His death is a deep loss to the human rights field, especially in the fields of sexual and reproductive, as well as disability rights. 

Prof. Ngwena joined the Centre for Human Rights in 2012 from the University of the Free State where he had worked as a Professor of Law for many years. Since he joined the Centre, and he led the development of the Centre’s academic and programmatic work in the areas of disability, and sexual and reproductive rights.  Through his intellectual leadership, the Centre launched the Masters in Sexual and Reproductive Rights in Africa, and the Disability Rights in Africa Programmes. Since 2023, he has been with the Centre on a post-retirement contract. On 13 and 14 November 2023, the Centre brought together over 50 scholars, researchers and activists from all over the world to commemorate his exceptional contributions to human rights and to highlight his pioneering work in advancing SRHR in Africa.

These academic programmes that Charles initiated have been transformative for human rights efforts in Africa, yielding a new generation of advocates for SRHR and Disability Rights, and amplifying Africa’s voice in the global human rights discourse. Charles has been a pillar resource for the programmes, serving both as a faculty member, but also a valuable guide and mentor for those who have come after to support the work. 

Charles’ extensive research and publication are ground breaking, and an unmatched contribution to scholarship and knowledge. He added his unique voice to debates on contentious topics of contemporary concern such as the right to abortion, access to gender-affirming care and the intersectional between various rights. His recent 2018 monograph titled “What is Africanness? Contesting nativism and race, culture and sexualities” published in 2018 was awarded the University of Pretoria Vice Chancellor’s Award for Scholarly Books. His expertise was global, and recognised across the world. Most recently, Charles was a Research Scholar for 2022 - 2024 at the Gruber Program for Global Justice and Women’s Rights at Yale University. He was also the Convening Editor of the Disability Rights in Africa Yearbook, published by the Pretoria University Law Press.  

Until his death, Charles was a supervisor for a number masters and doctoral students, as well as postdoctoral fellows at the Centre. He was also actively engaged in numerous other initiatives in the Centre, including our work on race and common citizenships, and support to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. 

Charles was a gentleman, in manner and form. He gave his time and wisdom without reservation. He valued everyone equally. He loved his family dearly.   He will be sorely missed.

As we continue mourn this loss, we also extend our deepest condolences to his wife Patricia, and his whole family that he so dearly loved, friends, colleagues, and students the world over. 

May his soul rest in eternal peace! 

For more information, please contact:

Centre for Human Rights
University of Pretoria
Facuty of Law
www.chr.up.ac.za