Reverend Tanelle Welff-Dixon receives honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for community contributions

Kraaifontein’s Reverend Tanelle Welff-Dixon has reflected on her journey after being conferred with the Doctor of Humane Letters  (D.H.L.) honorary doctorate.

In a letter dated Tuesday, February 3, the Evangelical Fellowship of Christian Churches South Africa (EFCCSA) Bible Institute announced that it had honoured Rev Welff-Dixon for her outstanding contributions to society and the church through education, community upliftment, ethical leadership and spiritual influence.

“Rev Welff-Dixon was selected for this prestigious award following a rigorous and thorough process. A dedicated panel of academic and ecclesiastical reviewers meticulously examined her extensive work, including her publications, community initiatives, leadership in ministry and societal impact,” said Reverend Gloria Meyer, the dean of the bible institute.

She said the panel unanimously recommended her for the distinction after a process supervised and guided by Dr Ivor Erasmus to ensure that every step met the required academic and ethical standards.

Rev Welff-Dixon was conferred with the honorary doctorate under the auspices of Emmanuel Christian University (ECU) in Bloemfontein.

She is the director of Tanelle Welff Ministries and Foundation (TWMF), a faith-based non-profit organisation focusing on social and restorative justice advocacy. The foundation works particularly in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV), substance abuse and other social ills affecting communities.

In November last year, Welff-Dixon was named among Cape Town’s Top 30 Influential Women of the Year at an event held at GrandWest Casino.

She also serves as project coordinator for the Kraaifontein police station’s Spiritual Crime Prevention Forum and has long advocated for the rights of women and children.

Among her initiatives, her foundation co-hosted a Women’s Day event highlighting the challenges faced by women farm workers. She also represented her community at the G20 Social Summit held in Gauteng in November last year.

Reflecting on the recognition, Rev Welff-Dixon said: “Using my life as case study material, my voice and what I have left as an advocacy tool to empower victims has been a lifelong dream.

"Achieving this milestone and being recognised for ethical leadership is priceless. There is no monetary value one can add to serving others with integrity, building relationships of trust and dignity.”

Dr Erasmus described the honorary doctorate as not only a personal achievement but a testament to unwavering service to Christ and humanity.

“This award marks the first honorary doctorate granted through the EFCCSA’s Bible Institute under its university affiliation, setting a new precedent for recognising transformative Christian leadership,” he said.

He added that the doctorate followed a rigorous evaluation process led by the late Archbishop Professor Emmanuel Ketsekile, a SAQA-accredited religious professional whose lifelong dedication to Christian education left an enduring legacy.

Rev Welff-Dixon will be bestowed with an honorary doctorate on Sunday, March 8, at a venue yet to be confirmed. 

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