The University of Mpumalanga’s (UMP) council has appointed a new vice chancellor, Prof Thenjiwe Meyiwa.

She takes the baton from the outgoing Prof Thoko Mayekiso and will commence her duties on October 1. The appointment emanates from a council meeting on March 27. According to the chairperson, Sabelo Mahlalela, Meyiwa brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role.

She serves as the deputy vice chancellor for research, postgraduate studies, innovation and commercialisation at the University of South Africa from 2018 to present.

Prior to that, she served as the institutional registrar at the Durban University of Technology from 2014 to 2018; held the position of research director of education and skills development at the Human Science Research Council from 2012 to 2014; served in various academic roles, including that of a research professor at the Walter Sisulu University from 2010 to 2011; and was the head of the department, a director and a senior lecturer at the Centre for Gender Studies for a decade.

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“As the council, we are pleased to welcome Prof Meyiwa as the new vice chancellor of the UMP. Guided by our institutional statute and policies, Meyiwa’s appointment is the result of a vigorous selection process we undertook over a period to find a suitable candidate. Meyiwa has the academic and leadership attributes to fill the position of vice chancellor at our university. We believe this is a new chapter to build on the success we have had in the last decade. The council congratulates Meyiwa on her appointment and we commit to fully support her and the management of the university in our pursuance to actualise our Vision 2030,” Mahlalela said.

They also extended their gratitude to Mayekiso for her dedication and leadership since 2014.