Former South African cabinet minister and academic Dr Naledi Pandor has been named the new chancellor of Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha. She will succeed Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, whose term concludes at the end of March. University officials highlight Pandor's leadership qualities as aligning closely with the institution's values.
Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha has appointed Dr Naledi Pandor as its new chancellor, marking a significant leadership transition for the institution. Pandor, a respected former cabinet minister and prominent academic, steps into the role following the end of Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi's tenure on March 31.
The announcement underscores NMU's commitment to values-driven leadership. University spokesperson Dr Luzuko Jacobs praised Pandor's unique profile, stating: “Dr Naledi Pandor embodies a rare form of leadership forged at the intersection of rigorous scholarship, moral fearlessness, and a disciplined ethical care—speaking truth to power while insisting that knowledge must serve justice. Secondly, as an active scholar of global stature, she personifies NMU's identity as a values-driven institution; understanding that a university is not only a site of knowledge production but also, and importantly, as moral custodians of society's conscience.”
This appointment comes at a time when South African universities are navigating complex challenges in higher education, including academic excellence and societal impact. Pandor's background in public service and scholarship positions her to guide NMU in upholding its foundational principles, inspired by the legacy of Nelson Mandela.
