The newly appointed vice-chancellor and principal of the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State, Prof. Pamela Dube, becomes the first woman to take up this position. This marks a new era for the institution that has only had men hold this influential position.
Dube will officially take office on 1 January 2023, the university announced on Monday, 03 October. Her appointment has ended the varsity’s year-long search for a suitable candidate for this leadership role.
The position became vacant after the unprecedented resignation of Prof. Henk De Jager last year in September. His resignation followed a precautionary suspension which saw the matter heard in the Free State High Court on urgent basis after De Jager challenged his suspension.
De Jager served four years while his predecessor, Prof. Thandwa Mthembu, remains the only one to have served almost ten years as the vice-chancellor and principal of CUT. He took over the reins in 2007 and stepped down at the end of September in 2016.
It has been revealed that Dube was chosen as the ideal candidate after being shortlisted with three other women. She is a seasoned leader in higher education. According to Dube’s abridged biography, she completed her MA and PhD studies in comparative literature and media at the University of Siegen in Germany, supported by the German Exchange Programme, DAAD.
Dube currently holds the position of Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Development and Support at the University of Western Cape.
CUT management maintains that with her credentials, Dube brings a wealth of experience and passion in working with students, who remain the number one priority at CUT. “The University Council is grateful for the meaningful participation of all stakeholders within the university to her appointment. On behalf of the university community, I wish to thank her for taking up this offer and availing herself of the opportunity to lead our institution towards and beyond Vision 2030,” said Matthew Rantso, CUT Council Chairperson.
According to Rantso, Dube has shown her leadership ability through effective relationship-building approaches with academic, governmental, and business partners as well as public communications skills.
Prof. Alfred Ngowi, who has been the acting vice-chancellor and principal, will continue until the end of December this year.
