Jubilation, glamour and class were the order of the evening on Friday when Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe was officially installed as the sixth chancellor of the University of Cape Town.
The prestigious event was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Moloi-Motsepe was announced as the new chancellor in January 2020, but her induction ceremony which was meant for later in the year, was further delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
She replaces Graca Machel as the chancellor. In another recent big appointment by UCT, Babalwa Ngonyama was named the chair of the university council. Her appointment, in July 2020, made her the first woman to hold that position in the 100 years of SA's oldest university.
Even more significant is the fact that Ngonyama's appointment helped make another significant fact of history, as the institution now have three black women at the helm. She and Moloi-Motsepe join vice-chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng in the top three positions of power at UCT.
The Friday ceremony was also marked by the presence of religious and traditional leaders among invited dignitaries. Zulu King Misuzulu KaZwelithini was accompanied by his wife Ntokozo Mayisela.
In her response to the grand event, Ngonyama said: “What a pleasure, I am so proud that UCT has embraced diversity and inclusion at its highest level of leadership. This marks the second time in our rich history that this role (chancellor) has been held by a powerful woman and is an immense reason for joy and celebration.
“I wish to thank the outgoing chancellor, Graça Machel, who served for 20 years. She was instrumental in building the UCT that we know and cherish today.” Ngonyama said the position of the chancellor of a university carries great responsibility and that the individual selected is granted the opportunity of contributing towards education and society with great impact.
"[The chancellor] is the titular head of the university. She is responsible for constituting the congregation for the leading event of every academic year, the graduation ceremony.
“Our chancellor serves as a role model, supports our fund raising efforts, acts as our principal ally and our defender on critical matters which a university must take a stand. She advances the reputation of our university around the world and helps to grow a sense of belonging among members of our most valued community.”
Ngonyama said Machel provided a role model for young African women, whom she has called on “to take the struggle of women to a higher level”.
“She said that 'education is a tool to allow you to fight in a world that will try to keep you down...Your much higher task will be to change the way society looks at, thinks about and treats women'. Her words carry weight because she has done this herself throughout her life.
“She spoke up for those who fall victim to poverty, xenophobia, natural disasters, gender-based violence, and other forms of marginalisation. In doing so, she reminded us that we are all members of one community and that we have the ability to create positive change, just as she has done throughout her life.”
Ngonyama added that they have so much to be proud of at UCT and to build on into the future.
“This is especially so at this time, when the world is plagued by the numerous challenges of climate change, nationalism, growing inequality, pandemics such as Covid-19, and gender based violence. These challenges threaten our existence. This is time for introspection about our lives and values. As leaders, it is important for us to live purposeful lives. Purposeful driven organisations have impact and give more to the world than they take.”
She said their intentions are captured in UCT’s Vision 2030, which commits to unleashing human potential to creating a fair and just society.
“At UCT, we develop critical thinkers, leaders and individuals who will create ripples in their communities and on a global stage, who will provide a different set of solutions for the world’s challenges and in so doing make a better future for all.
“At UCT, we are clear. We define our own standards of excellence through innovation grounded in our deep rooted values. We strive to be a world class global university, that is uncompromising in its transformative intent, grounded in academic excellence and committed to social, environmental and financial sustainability,” she said.
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