MEDIA RELEASE
10 JUNE 2014
No of Pages: 2
DYNAMIC GROUP FOR WSU COUNCIL
Walter Sisulu University’s (WSU) newly-elected Council Chairperson Prof Lourens Van
Staden’s first port of call will be to announce the University’s new Council at a media briefing
to be held at the institution’s Joint Merger Office in East London on Wednesday 11 June.
In a show of confidence following a successful 30-month stint as University administrator
from October 2011 to April 2014, Van Staden will retain powers and ensure continuity and
implementation of the University’s Turnaround Strategy as chief office-bearer in the
University’s governance body.
Van Staden, who was voted Chairperson in a meeting held in East London on 30 May, leads
a dynamic, multi-disciplinary and highly-skilled Council that will build on the gains made by
the University through the Turnaround Strategy.
The Council is made up of 20 members, including the University’s Interim Vice Chancellor,
the Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research, two senate representatives, a
non-senate academic representative, a non-senate non-academic representative, two
Convocation representatives, two SRC representatives and five ministerial appointees (of
which Van Staden is one). An additional five Council members were elected by Council.
Key to the make-up of the new Council is the plethora of experts and specialists who
possess diverse skills in a number of different fields to tackle the many issues a University
Council is most commonly confronted with.
From chartered accountants to a Member of Parliament, a Supreme Court advocate to a
mathematician, an architect, businesspersons, an engineer, a policy development expert, a
human resource expert – the quality and calibre of the incumbent executive leadership is
shaped and designed for optimal performance and success through the establishment of a
multidisciplinary body.
Council members will include:
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Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic at Tshwane University of Technology Prof Lourens
Van Staden (Chairperson
High Court judge Nambitha Dambuza (Council Deputy Chaiperson)
Advocate of the Supreme Court in private practice Lusindiso Matotie;
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Director and Design Principle architectural firm DesignSpace Africa Dr Luyanda
Mpahlwa
Executive Director of the Border Kei Chamber of Business Les Holbrook
EL Industrial Development Zone CEO Simphiwe Khondlo
Newly-appointed MP in the Bisho Legislature Lancelot Capa
Chartered Accountant and Senior Executive in the South African Institute of
Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Chantyl Mulder
Executive Director of WIPHOLD and Chief Executive Officer of Wipcapital Gloria
Serobe
General Manager, HR Corporate Centre (Transnet SOC Ltd) Nandipa Tyamzashe
National Planning Commissioner and Chair of the Capable/Development State
and Spatial Working Group tasked with delivering South Africa’s first National
Development Plan Vuyokazi Mahlathi
Chartered Accountant and Chief Executive Officer of ANF Incorporated Temba
Zakuza
WSU Interim Vice Chancellor Khaya Mfenyana
WSU Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Research Prof Sandile
Songca
WSU Director of the School of Mathematics in the University’s Faculy of Education
WSU Director of the School of Tourism and Hospitality
WSU Senior Lecturer in the Department of Inorganic Chemistry Prof Bandile
Nakani
WSU ICT Telecommunications Administrative Assistant Siyabulela Tshangela
Buffalo City Campus SRC President Misheck Mugabe
Mthatha Campus SRC President Sinelizwi Mgontshongo
The Council Executive will comprise six members with Van Staden as chairperson, Judge
Nambitha Dambuza as Deputy Chairperson. Committee chairpersons will include Chantyl
Mulder (Finance), Nandipha Tyamzashe (Human Resource), Dr Luyanda Mpahlwa (Planning
and Infrastructure), and Temba Zakuza (Risk, Compliance and Audit) who’ll be charged with
spearheading coordination efforts to place sharper focus on these committees for better
overall University governance.
WSU Spokesperson Angela Church said that WSU had now embarked upon a new phase in
the University’s ongoing transformation.
“The establishment of the new Council signals the closure of the Administration period for
WSU and henceforth the Council will assume strategic responsibility for good governance at
WSU. We are particularly pleased with the calibre of our new council members who bring all
the high-level skills required to govern WSU in a new dispensation,” said Church.
“It is an added strength that the former Administrator, Prof Lourens Van Staden, is leading
the Council as this will ensure continuity of the gains made over the past two-and-a-half
years,” she concluded.
Ends.
Issued by:
Angela Church
WSU spokesperson
Tel 082 371 2948/076 404 9924
achurch@wsu.ac.za