UKZN welcomes new chancellor
The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) welcomed Dr. Reuel Khoza, as its new chancellor last week.
The inauguration ceremony took place last Wednesday, May 4, at UKZN’s Westville campus, and was followed by the first in-person graduation ceremony the university has hosted in two years, due to Covid-19.
A distinguished thinker, businessman, president of the Institute of Directors, Africanist, public speaker and change agent at the forefront of black economic empowerment, Khoza is both a practitioner and theorist in the field of African leadership.
He is currently chairman and major shareholder of Aka Capital (Pty) Limited, an investment holdings and private equity company, with investments in various industries. He was the first black chairman of Eskom Holdings, and later chaired the Public Investment Corporation Ltd (PIC) and Nedbank Group Limited, among other corporations. He has been a director of several companies, including Nampak, Old Mutual, Protea Hospitality Holdings, and Sasol Oil.
He is a former chancellor of the University of Limpopo (2007 - 2017) and Medunsa (2007 - 2012). As chancellor of the University of Limpopo, he succeeded former president Nelson Mandela at his alma mater; and was pivotal for raising funds for the establishment of the Chair of Audit & Accounting.
UKZN’s vice chancellor, Professor Nanu
Poku, was delighted to welcome Khoza into the position, and thanked him for his enthusiasm with which he accepted the position.
“Who better than someone widely acclaimed as a ‘thought leader’ to be a university chancellor? In addition to a glittering business career, Dr. Khoza is also a man of many gifts — farmer and musician among them. It would seem that the only matter beyond his reach is spare time!
“Yet, he has still seen fit to assume the role of chancellor of the University of KwaZulu-Natal. I am certain that you will feel as
I do that, in joining us in what began and remains a visionary enterprise, UKZN has been blessed with precisely the ideal chancellor,” Poku said at the inauguration ceremony.
Khoza expressed his deepest gratitude to UKZN for deeming him fit to assume the esteemed position.
“I consider it a singular honour and exceptional privilege. I accept this privilege to serve at a painful conjuncture in the history of our nation.
“Here within the hallowed precincts of UKZN, I call on students, their lecturers, the honourable body of academia: Be audacious, be diligent, be dogged, be daring in your pursuit of excellence. As your chancellor, I pledge to do the same as and when duty calls.”
Khoza’s first order of business as chancellor is to preside over the graduation ceremonies, that will continue until May 21.