The African National Congress (ANC) and UNISA’s National Student Representatives Council (NSRC) have called on the institution’s community to rally behind re-appointed Vice Chancellor Professor Puleng LenKabula in her second term.
Together with the Academic and Professional Staff Association (APSA) of South African Universities, South Africa’s governing party and student body NSRC have expressed support for the council’s decision to extend Professor LenKabula’s term. They also celebrated the achievements made under her administration since 2021.
In a media statement released on December 11, the ANC said Professor LenkaBula’s “historic leadership as the first woman to hold this role has significantly enhanced Unisa’s institutional stability, teaching, and learning, while advancing its transformation agenda.”
The governing party has urged the UNISA community to support Professor LenkaBula in her quest to take the institution to greater heights.
“We call on the Unisa community to rally behind Professor LenkaBula in her second term as she continues to position the university as a leader in inclusive and transformative education. The ANC reaffirms its support for higher education as a pillar for building a knowledge-driven economy and an equitable society.” said the ANC.
Echoing this sentiment, the NSRC emphasised that Professor LenkaBula’s leadership aligns with its mission to ‘transform the university into a space that serves the working-class majority.’
“We call on the university community to unite behind Professor LenkaBula as she advances progressive policies that dismantle systemic barriers and uplift the student collective,” said the SRC.
The announcement of Professor LenkaBula’s reappointment was made during the university’s council meeting on Monday, December 9, 2024.
For its part, APSA has heaped praises on the UNISA council for retaining Professor LenkaBula.
“Through collective struggle and resistance, APSA Union secured Academic Grading during the term of Prof. LenkaBula’s administration – a victory for the academic labour and all staff. APSA thus 100% welcomes the position of council” said APSA in a media statement.
In addition, UNISA’s NSRC praised Professor LenkaBula’s leadership, emphasising her positive impact on the student populace.
“This victory represents the triumph of progressive, student-centered leadership against forces of inertia and elitism,” said the NSRC in a statement. “It is the decisive interventions of this leadership collective that have prioritized the needs of the oppressed student majority.”
The student body commended Professor LenkaBula for her role in addressing the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring a smooth transition back to normalcy.
“During the global health crisis, the VC delivered online examinations, ensuring continuity of education despite the inability in the sector to provide for the most marginalized.” the statement noted “Under her leadership, students now receive monthly data without hurdles, a victory that reflects decades of struggle by the working-class student body. Additionally, the number of graduates entering society has increased – a testament to a leadership that understands education as a tool of liberation, not commodification, the NSRC said in a statement.
The Unisa Convocation, the university’s largest statutory body representing a constituency of over one million alumni, welcomed Professor LenkaBula’s reappointment. In a statement, the Convocation praised her exceptional leadership and contribution to academic excellence, which has significantly boosted Unisa’s standing in university rankings.
“Today, Unisa’s brand is highly respected and well-regarded, a fact that is of great importance to the alumni community.” the statement read “The Convocation of the Council welcomes the reappointment of the VC. Among the many reasons for our support, we strongly believe that the steady leadership of the VC has contributed to the graduation of over 58,118 students—nearly half the number of graduates produced by other universities combined.”
