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 period, Professor Sepota drove several improvements aligned with Unisa’s strategic goals,” the university said. “These included the introduction of efficiency measures that reduced the duration of graduation ceremonies, allowing for an extended tuition period, while improving student success rates and reducing operational costs.”
The university added that Sepota’s appointment was based not only on his impressive academic credentials but also on his proven track record of administrative excellence and dedication to institutional transformation.
Sepota brings over three decades of experience in higher education to the role, combining scholarly expertise with a deep understanding of university management. He holds a Diploma in Management Studies from the Management College of Southern Africa (Mancosa) and a Doctor of Literature (DLitt) from Stellenbosch University.
A notable part of his career, spanning more than 13 years, has been shaped within the context of a Comprehensive Open Distance e-Learning (CODeL) environment. In this space, Sepota has been instrumental in navigating the evolving challenges and opportunities of distance learning, an area where Unisa remains a global leader.
Before his tenure as Acting Registrar, Professor Sepota served as Acting Deputy Registrar: Student Administration and System Integration. In that capacity, he oversaw several key portfolios, including student admissions and registration, assessment administration, student communication and development, graduations, records management, and regional services.
He also previously held the position of Unisa Regional Director for the North Eastern Region, where he spearheaded major infrastructure and organisational development projects. Under his leadership, the university secured and upgraded facilities in Giyani and Middelburg, initiated the development of the Unisa Mbombela Hub, and completed the Clifford Tleane Student Centre in Polokwane.
Among his most significant achievements as Regional Director was leading the merger of the Limpopo and Mpumalanga regional offices to establish the Northern Eastern Region. This complex process required not only administrative restructuring but also a strong focus on change management, integrating staff from previously separate offices into a cohesive and high-performing team.
Professor Sepota also strengthened the region’s research culture by initiating robust postgraduate support structures, which led to increased collaboration and productivity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when virtual platforms became essential for academic engagement.
Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Puleng LenkaBula, hailed the appointment as a strategic step in ensuring continuity and stability in the university’s operations.
“The appointment of Professor Sepota as University Registrar on a permanent basis is a very positive development for the university,” said LenkaBula. “We are elated at the opportunity to continue serving alongside an administrator of his calibre, a servant leader with a track record of commitment to excellence, transformation, and student success in higher education. We congratulate him and wish him well in the execution of this critical assignment.”
With his appointment, Sepota is expected to continue driving the institution’s vision of becoming a leading provider of inclusive, high-quality open and distance learning. His blend of academic insight, strategic leadership, and institutional knowledge is anticipated to further strengthen Unisa’s administrative systems and contribute to its broader transformation agenda.
The appointment of Professor Sepota as Unisa’s new Registrar underscores the university’s ongoing commitment to stable leadership, efficient administration, and an unwavering focus on student success, a hallmark of Africa’s largest and most influential distance-learning institution.
