Cameron Dugmore, an African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament in the National Assembly, has commended the University of South Africa (UNISA) for receiving an unqualified audit opinion for the 2022/2023 financial year. In a statement released on Tuesday October 29th, Dugmore praised the university’s contributions to shaping Africa’s intellectual future, and attributed this achievement to the leadership of UNISA Principal and Vice Chancellor Professor Puleng LenkaBula and former President Thabo Mbeki’s support as Chancellor, highlighting their commitment to financial…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Fern Universität of Hagen in Germany. The MoU, signed on Monday, 23 September 2024, seeks to strengthen collaboration between the two universities in areas of research, student exchanges, and the joint development of academic programmes, UNISA said in a statement on Monday, September 21. The Fern University of Hagen is Germany’s only state-owned open distance-learning university and its largest by numbers. Under the partnership, the…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) is holding a two-day strategic Lekgotla aimed at reflecting on the institution’s progress towards its strategic goals and charting a path forward for the current academic year and beyond. This year’s Lekgotla, held in Benoni on the East Rand, will prioritize enrollment management, a key area for Unisa, said the university in a statement released on Monday, July 29. “The Lekgotla is an annual event that allows Unisa leadership to address critical strategic issues…

The North Gauteng High Court has scolded Higher Education and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande for defying an order preventing him from appointing an administrator for the University of South Africa (Unisa) The court in Pretoria also allowed the Unisa council to lodge a possible contempt of court challenge against Nzimande’s decision to place the institution under administration. On Saturday, Nzimande announced two major changes to Unisa: he had dissolved the university’s council, and appointed former University of Johannesburg Vice-Chancellor Professor…

The University of South Africa (UNISA) has honoured St. Engenas Zion Christian Church (ZCC) spiritual leader, Bishop Dr. Engenas Joseph Lekganyane, for outstanding leadership and for promoting African spirituality and values.  The revered Bishop, the head of one of the two Z.C.C churches, was also recognised for his commitment to peace, social justice and the strengthening of African institutions. His Grace, the Right Reverend Bishop Dr. Barnabas Lekganyane, leads the other Z.C.C church (the Star emblem) Bishop Dr. Lekganyane was conferred…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has slammed Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Blade Nzimande for placing the institution under administration, saying it is illegal, insensitive and ill-timed.  On Saturday, Nzimande announced that former University of Johannesburg Vice-Chancellor Professor Ihron Rensburg has assumed the role of Unisa administrator for two years starting from October 27. Nzimande also announced that he had dissolved the university’s council.  “In making his decision to both dissolve Council and appoint the administrator, Minister…

The University of South Africa (Unisa) has rebuffed reports that the institution is administratively on its knees and is therefore deserving of being placed under administration. During a media briefing at Unisa’s Muckleneuk Campus in Pretoria, the principal and vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, said she acknowledged two reports that led to Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande’s decision to place the institution under administration. Nzimande’s decision was based on a ministerial task team (MTT) report and an Independent…

Professor Puleng LenKabula, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa), reminds me of former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. Lenkabula and Rousseff, for different reasons, epitomise the pain of being an outsider and the consequences of not being a candidate for the establishment in any race. The establishment is the dominant social group, the élite, who control a polity, an organisation, or an institution.  Brazil’s first female president, Rousseff, is a former guerilla fighter and member of the Workers…