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:
· 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;
…more…
· 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 082371 2948/076 404 9924