‘Welcome home, Mosa’: Messages aplenty for UCT VC

There has been outpouring support for the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) vice-chancellor (VC), Professor Mosa Moshabela, who was installed as the 11th VC in a grand ceremony on Monday, 25 November.

Hosted in the Sarah Baartman Hall, the packed audience included vice-chancellors from sister universities, industry colleagues, students, staff, interested guests and Professor Moshabela’s family, who were in a celebratory mood.

There was thundering applause when his mother Esther Moshabela; and wife, Dr Nosipho Makhakhe were invited to join him on stage after he was officially robed and signed the university’s Golden Book. But he was in for a surprise when his mother, with a microphone in hand, led words of praise (ditheto) for him, to which several other family members also joined in.

“That surprised me. They didn’t tell me about that,” Moshabela said with a laugh after the event. He admitted that it was a different experience for his family because as much as he’d been introduced to the South African consciousness doing commentary during the pandemic, this is a different level.

“My family does have to think about what this moment means. When I was in the media a lot during the pandemic, we formed a way of engaging where they know we compartmentalise: when I’m in the public, I’m a certain figure, and when at home, there’s a difference. My family understands that, but I don’t think they get to see it the way it happened today and that was overwhelming.

It’s now time for me to feel excited about the job,” he shared.

The deputy vice-chancellor (DVC) for Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness, Professor Elelwani Ramugondo, called the appointment “important” for the institution. “It is great institutions that attract great leaders, and this is always my hope with the University of Cape Town. And to have Professor Moshabela as our vice-chancellor at this time is important. I truly believe he is the vice-chancellor the institution needs at this moment,” she said.

“What is even more significant about having a vice-chancellor like him is that he comes from humble beginnings, raised by his grandmother who instilled in him self-confidence and what you see is someone who understands self-worth.”

Professor Jeff Murugan, the acting DVC for Research and Internationalisation, said what pleases him most about the VC is that they have a shared vision. “In a sense, we’re in unprecedented times where universities are coming to terms with the fact that they’re no longer just custodians of knowledge. We produce the knowledge, but industry produces it just as fast and so we’re having to redefine what we think of as the role of the university in the 21st century. It’s scary, but at the same time it’s really exciting. It’s a new way of thinking about the things we do and what role we play in society and in driving knowledge production forward.”

Skills, ability

Also in attendance was Archbishop Thabo Makgoba, who encouraged Moshabela to take the Cape Town community with as he powers vision. “I’m excited for the UCT community. It’s a new beginning and a new age. I want to say hippy! Heartiest congratulations to Professor Mosa and I hope he will take UCT to the greatest heights; climbing on the shoulders of those who have come before him, and I hope he will keep connecting with the broader community in Cape Town. He is a good fit for UCT.

He’s got skills, ability, the personality and experience. I hope the rest of the university structure will support him as he steers this ship.”

The University of Johannesburg was represented by its vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, who said: “Remember, as we say, Kgosi ke Kgosi ka setshaba (a king is a king through the will of the people) – do not forget that. I wish you all the best with this important role.”

The dean of Research at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Faculty of Health Sciences, Professor Anil Chuturgoon, revealed that Moshabela was his student once. “I know UCT is in a better space with him being here. Please take care of our young man. At UKZN, we produce leaders who always deliver the best so well done and all the best. I wish you many years of success. When you finish, please come back to our province,” he said with a laugh.

Representing Universities South Africa (USAf) – a body in which all vice-chancellors of public universities sit – was Dr Phethiwe Matutu. She said Moshabela can rest assured knowing that the body will support him in his endeavours. “We hope UCT will thrive under his leadership,” she said.

Welcome home

The former chair of the Alumni Advisory Board and long-standing donor, Dianna Yach, said, “He believes in ‘win-win’ situations, underpinned by generosity of spirit and the values of ubuntu. He wants to go back to talking about what ubuntu means and learn how to do that every day in the ways we relate to each other.

“Disrupting business as usual and striving to create a different reality is often met with hostility, denial and frustration. But UCT must not allow itself to be trapped in the past. There will be disagreements along the way but all of us need to stay engaged and become better listeners.”

She concluded: “We are fortunate to have found a VC who is interested in nurturing the human factors that will make the greatest difference in creating an enabling environment for teaching, learning and research that is fit for purpose now and in the future – a leadership style that places students, staff, alumni and friends of UCT at the heart of everything UCT does. Welcome home, Mosa.”