Judy Dlamini has been elected chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand. A medical doctor by training‚ Dlamini‚ a leading businesswoman‚ author & philanthropist and Anele Mngadi‚ a turnaround strategist‚ were the two nominees for the position.
Judy Dlamini will take up her new post on 1st of December 2018‚ replacing the current chancellor of Wits‚ former deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke who served two six-year terms as chancellor.
She stated it was an honor and a pleasure to be elected as chancellor of Wits.
“I would like to thank convocation for its confidence in me. I look forward to working with all sectors of the Wits community.”
Professor Tawana Kupe, the acting vice-chancellor of Wits‚ said the university was privileged to have Dlamini serve as the chancellor of one of the leading institutions on the African continent.
“She is a public figure of very high distinction and personal caliber and reflects the university’s commitment to intellectual integrity and academic excellence.”
Dlamini‚ 59‚ is a medical doctor and author of the book Equal But Different‚ which is based on her research conducted for her doctorate in business leadership‚ is the executive chairperson of the Mbekani Group.
She founded the Sifiso Learning Group‚ the holding company for Future Nation Schools.
In an interview with the Sunday Times last week‚ Dlamini said that she believed a chancellor’s role at a university was to link the different stakeholders of the institution because it “doesn’t exist as an island”.
“It’s important that you actually become the bridge between students‚ the community and the university’s management. A chancellor’s position is a ceremonial position. It’s unlike a vice-chancellor‚ who is equivalent to a CEO. What I bring is my passion for education.” “I am passionate about education. There isn’t a decade of my life that I haven’t studied and I have studied at different universities in this country.”
“I always say it’s an honor to serve and whether I’m the chancellor of Wits or not‚ I will continue to serve because my purpose in life is to serve.”
