The University of South Africa (Unisa) has defended its academic standing, governance and financial management, while outlining major milestones including the acquisition of an airport, during a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday. Principal and Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula described the institution as a trailblazer in distance learning, research innovation and academic transformation, with a legacy spanning more than 150 years. LenkaBula said the university’s performance between 2021 and 2025 demonstrated its continued contribution to skills development in the country. During…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has reinforced its position as a pioneering force in higher education, announcing a series of groundbreaking “firsts”, including plans to launch a university-owned airport, as it reflects on recent achievements and charts an ambitious future. Speaking at a media briefing in Pretoria on Thursday, Principal and Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula described the institution as a trailblazer in distance learning, research innovation and academic transformation, with a legacy spanning more than 150 years. LenkaBula said Unisa,…

The Covid-19 pandemic, disruptive technologies, and current developments in changing global geopolitics, specifically the US travel ban on 21 countries and counting, as well as the raging war in the Middle East, have led to a dire situation that requires repositioning of internationalisation in the higher education landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional internationalisation activities, further stretching already limited resources and impacting international student and staff mobility. To date, delays in study visa processing continue to pose a major obstacle…

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has confirmed that Sarah-Jane Trent is a graduate of the institution after a statement circulating on social media falsely claimed she did not hold a degree from the university. In a media statement released on Monday, Unisa said Trent obtained a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the institution in May 2013. The university also strongly distanced itself from a document that had been widely shared online and which purported to be from Unisa,…

Flooding, storms, droughts, and heatwaves have become common occurrences across the globe. Each time an extreme weather or climate event strikes, the same question arises: is this climate change? Weather and climate experts are often cautious in answering this directly, because linking a specific event to climate change requires detailed scientific analysis known as attribution studies. These studies examine how human-driven climate change alters the likelihood or intensity of specific extreme weather events. The findings are increasingly clear. The 2015–2017…

The University of South Africa has welcomed a series of high court judgments against Mogaila Mogashoa, Mandisa Mashego and Simamkele Xani, describing the rulings as a decisive stand against what it calls a sustained campaign of defamatory attacks on the institution and its leadership. In a statement released on Wednesday, the university confirmed that separate applications were brought before the courts in response to statements made by the three individuals. The institution said the judgments affirm its commitment to protecting…

One of Africa’s top museums has been officially opened in Egypt, signalling the intention to tell and document the continent’s history with renewed vigour. The University of South Africa (UNISA) hosted a live screening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) opening ceremony from Cairo on 1 November. Held at the UNISA main campus in Pretoria, the event was graced by high-profile dignitaries, including His Excellency Ahmad Sharief, the Ambassador of Egypt to South Africa. In her opening address, Dr Matsheliso…

Delivering the 17th Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair Founders’ Lecture at Unisa, Ambassador Thenjiwe Mtintso challenged South African universities to reclaim African languages as instruments of identity and educational transformation. On a rainy Friday evening, on 7 November 2025, the Kgorong Building at Unisa’s main campus in Pretoria glistened under the downpour as Africa’s first Nobel Peace Laureate was celebrated with the seventh Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair Founders’ Lecture. Hosted by Unisa’s Chief Albert Luthuli Research Chair in collaboration…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) says its academic and institutional performance has continued to improve a year after a failed attempt to place the institution under administration. Monday, 27 October 2025, marked just over a year since the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria stopped the then Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation from placing Unisa under administration. The court ruling followed an urgent application by the university’s Council and Management, which argued that the minister’s move was…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has officially appointed academic administrator, Professor Moloko Sepota, as its new University Registrar, effective 1 October 2025. The appointment marks a significant milestone for the institution as it continues to strengthen its leadership and administrative capacity. In a statement released this week, Unisa praised Professor Sepota’s leadership during his tenure as Acting Registrar since June 2023, noting that his contribution has brought “much-needed stability” to one of the university’s most crucial portfolios. “During this…