This week has witnessed one towering figure, Judge Bernard Ngoepe, who served as Unisa’s chancellor with distinction for fifteen years, stepping down. This distinguished legal luminary selflessly served with integrity, dignity, and honour in a manner that enhanced Unisa’s profile and reputation even during the difficult times of university mergers.
To sustain and consolidate this profile, the university had a rigorous process of selecting a new chancellor and there was consensus in selecting former president Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki, an outstanding African intellectual giant and the most recognisable 21st century proponent of the African Renaissance, who is highly regarded internationally. He has been involved in various leadership roles in the anti-apartheid liberation struggle and post-apartheid nation-building programme for almost six decades. He continues to be involved in a range of conflict-resolution and development initiatives in Africa.
In selecting and appointing a new chancellor, Unisa carefully considered attributes and qualities that resonated with its vision and mission as articulated in its Strategy Vision 2030 to become “the African university shaping futures in the service of humanity”.
The following factors, amongst others, were taken into consideration:
“As we welcome Former President Mbeki as our new Chancellor, we are excited about the value his stature and intellectual standing will add to our university at the time where the prospects of the Africa Rising Narrative seem to be realistic enough for the continent to claim its prominent place in the global community”, said Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Mandla Makhanya.
Publish date: 2016-12-09 00:00:00.0