UJ inaugurates Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as their new Chancellor
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University of Johannesburg (UJ) has officially welcomed Former Deputy President of South Africa and former Executive Director of United Nations (UN) Women Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka as their new Chancellor.
Mlambo-Ngcuka was officially inaugurated on Thursday and she becomes the third Chancellor of UJ, taking over from Professor Njabulo Ndebele whose term of office ends on 30 September 2022.
Speaking ahead of the inaugural event, Dr Mlambo-Ngcuka said the face of higher education and the way in which universities should be managed has changed significantly in recent years.
“This responsibility of Chancellor at one of the greatest and pioneering universities in South Africa is a huge honour for me. I will be building on the success of Prof Ndebele and his guidance that saw the institution becoming the national standard bearer for transformation, equity, access, Pan-Africanism and global excellence.”
Mlambo-Ngcuka said the country needs to consider placing more emphasis on the teachings of Ubuntu, responsible behaviour, good governance, and ethical leadership.
“Now is the time to think about what we can do to instil an ethical framework pre-graduation and post-graduation. I believe that good governance and ethical leadership are the values that must be instilled in all our students even before they qualify.”
She also reflected on the importance of education as an indispensable tool that has the power to develop and instil an ethical framework. She said this is vital to strengthen democracy and to save society from the failures of apartheid and from a slippery slope to a failed state.