Wikipedia Biography / Profile Background
Introduction :
- In a historic first, the University of South Africa (UNISA) appointed a woman as its principal and Vice-Chancellor. Professor Puleng LenkaBula is the recipient of this distinction. As per online reports, UNISA made it clear that the appointment of Prof Puleng showed that the council was committed to transformation and ensured that the university’s workforce was reflective of South Africa’s demographics.
- Puleng succeeded Mandia Makhanya as Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UNISA, in a unanimous decision by the university council. Though her appointment was supposed to come into effect on 1st January 2021, the council decided to extend Makhanya’s term to April 2021 to ensure a smooth handover.
- When she was quizzed on her appointment, Professor Puleng LenkaBula said that her appointment is on the basis of pure merit and not because of her gender.
Education : Qualifications, High School & College Info
- Prof Puleng has a PhD in theological ethics at the University of South Africa in the year 2006.
Employment Details :
- Professor Puleng was the vice-rector of institutional change, student affairs and community engagement at the University of the Free State before taking up the position of Principal and Vice-Chancellor at the University of South Africa.
- Prior to taking up the position of vice-rector, Puleng was the Dean of students at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Thoughts and Opinion :
- Professor Lenkabula has pretty strong opinions and says that universities are social institutes by nature that have to serve the public good through knowledge and innovation.
- The following is an excerpt of what she said during a podcast when she was interviewed post her appointment :
- “Universities have not been successful in ensuring that there are sites where the democratisation process, the inventions that respond to questions that societies grapple with are addressed. I think transformation should be ensuring that people living with disabilities are embraced within the university and nature their knowledge.”
Controversy :
- Professor LenkaBula was embroiled in a controversy with her predecessor Mandia Makhanya when she alleged that he was impacting academic project and that his presence was not in the interest of the University of South Africa.
Interesting Facts, Height and Trivia :
- Prof Puleng has the unique distinction of being the first woman in the University of South Africa’s 148-year history to hold the post.
- In an interview she made it clear that working for a better gender balance in academia was one of her key missions going forward.
- When Puleng’s mother was pregnant with her sibling she had to send her; a toddler, to live with relatives. This was while studying to be a teacher at a college in Mariannhill —because she could not raise the child alone.
- She is one of the most vociferous voices advocating for women’s rights. On one Women’s day Prof Puleng gave the keynote address at the virtual 12th International Women’s Day event, hosted by the Thabo Mbeki Foundation and Unisa.
Extremely interesting to see one of the women turning expectations into a reality. Proud of you and surely the “volume” spokes itself. Importantly you have shown all the women of continental a way of going into green pastures. May “Lord” bless you and wish you happy Christmas. Thank you.
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