University Council

Prof Thoko Mayekiso, is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga with effect from 1 November 2014.

She obtained a BA, BA Honours, and MA in Psychology, from the University of Fort Hare. She furthered her studies at the Free University Berlin, in Germany, where she obtained her D. Phil (cum laude) in Psychology. She also holds a Higher Education Diploma (Post Graduate) from the University of South Africa. She is a registered Clinical Psychologist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. In her sterling academic career, Prof Mayekiso has held positions of Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, Professor, Head of Department, and Vice Dean at the then University of Transkei.  She practiced as Honorary Clinical Fellow at the Greenwood Institute of Child Health, University of Leicester and simultaneously served as a Clinical Psychologist in the Department of Medical Psychology, Leicester General Hospital in the United Kingdom.  Being a distinguished scholar, and accomplished academic, Prof Mayekiso attracted a number of scholarships and fellowships. Notable among these are the German Academic Exchange Scholarship (DAAD) and the Commonwealth Fellowship tenable in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, she was awarded a certificate from the Psychological Society of South Africa (PsySSA) - in acknowledgement of the contribution made to the Profession of Psychology in South Africa. The South African University Vice-Chancellors Association and the American Council on Education awarded her a fellowship which was tenable at the University of Washington, Seattle. She then joined the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in 2001 where she served as Head of School, Deputy Dean, and then Acting Executive Dean in the Faculty of Humanities. She proceeded to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in 2007, as an Executive Dean in the Faculty of Arts, and then Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Engagement) in 2009.  

She has published in accredited journals - both nationally and internationally. She has also contributed chapters in no less than seven books. The themes on which she published are wide and varied, but the core areas have been in adolescent sexuality, HIV and AIDs prevention programmes and mental health. In terms of student supervision, she has supervised twenty-four (24) Masters Students and twelve (12) Doctoral students. She is a C3 rated scientist by the National Research Foundation and a member of the Academy of Science of South Africa.

Mr Gay Moekena matriculated at Khumbula High School, outside White River in the Mpumalanga Province in 1980. He went on to further his studies at the University of Zululand where he obtained his Bachelor of Administration degree in 1983. He was active in the Mass Democratic Movement during the 1980s. He was detained during the 1986 uprising. He led the civic movement during the early 1990s, when he helped the Gutshwa community to fight for access to water and electricity. During the late 1990s, Gay served as a chairperson of the Black Management Forum in the Ehlanzeni Region in Mpumalanga.
 
Mr Gay Moekena is a Development Economist and he holds a B. Admin (Hons) and a Master of Business Leadership (MBL) degrees from Unisa.  He has worked in the small business development sector for more than 30 years, starting from junior ranks as a business advisor to executive management.  He was on an internship as a Visiting Auditor at the West LB Bank, Düsseldorf, the third largest bank in Germany in 1995. He also participated in the United States- South Africa Leadership Exchange Programme (USSALEP) during which he attended leadership courses at the Washington DC University. He was also an intern at Arthur D Little in Boston, Massachusetts, a leading consulting firm in the USA.
 
After the historic democratic elections in 1994, Gay joined the Mpumalanga Provincial Government where he assisted with the transformation of the previous apartheid governmental structures. He was later appointed to head the Small Business Desk in the Mpumalanga Government. In this position, Gay was responsible for developing the Small Business Development Strategy for Mpumalanga. He also played a major role in the development of The White Paper on Small Business Strategy in South Africa in 1995.
 
He left government at the end of 1998 to start Silulu Investment Services, a private company involved in financial and consulting services for the SMME sector. Silulu specializes in deal-making for BEE consortia. In the past, Silulu has facilitated and invested in a number of business deals including, inter alia, the Mpumalanga Equity Fund, the Tourism Enterprise Programme (TEP), the Londoloza Forestry Consortium and York Timbers. Currently, Silulu has investments in Vutsela Investments (farming), Harkem Telecoms, Asithabeni Joint Venture (Tourism) and Olympic Park Properties.
 
Gay has previously served on the boards of Ntsika (now SEDA), Mpumalanga Economic Empowerment Corporation (now MEGA), the Mpumalanga Gaming Board, the Mpumalanga Housing Finance Company (chairperson for 10 years), the Inkomati Catchment Management Agency, Saw Milling South Africa (inaugural chairperson of the revived SSA), Forestry South Africa and York Timbers Limited (JSE listed).
 
He is currently a director of the Silulu Group of companies (chairperson), Vutsela Investments, the NAFCOC Investment Company, Unlimited Citrus and the University of Mpumalanga.
 
Mr Moekena is a member of a number of community organizations. He is a Fellowship Member of the Institute of Directors of South Africa (IoDSA) and he is the Secretary of NAFCOC in the Mpumalanga Province. He is also the Vice-President and currently the Acting CEO of the South African Football Association (SAFA), an organization that controls the sport of football in South Africa.

Prof Thandabantu Nhlapo was Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Cape Town for ten years, where he had also served as Professor and Head of the Department of Private Law. Prof Nhlapo was a full-time Commissioner on the South African Law Reform Commission, where he was responsible for the development of the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, passed by Parliament in 1998. He has also served on the Executive Councils of the International Society of Family Law and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law. By presidential appointment, Nhlapo was Chair of the Commission on Traditional Leadership Disputes and Claims (“Nhlapo Commission”). He holds a BA (Law) degree from the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, an LL.B (Hons) from the University of Glasgow, and a DPhil in Family Laws from Oxford University. Nhlapo was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws by the University of Glasgow in 2012.

Ms Malabo Ledwaba attended High School at Motse Maria High School. Malabo attended her tertiary education at Setotolwaqne College of education, where she obtained her Secondary Teacher’s Diploma. Malebo furthered her studies at Durban University of Technology and obtained B-Tech Management - Degree.

Malebo is currently completing her MBA with the University of Limpopo. Malebo is a lecturer at Capricorn TVET College, Polokwane Campus.

Malebo is also an entrepreneur at heart and own Brainwave Projects 342 CC t/a Glitter Chemicals CC, a cleaning detergents manufacturing company based at Chebeng, Moletjie in Polokwane.

Mr Aling studied at Stellenbosch (1982-84) where he received a B. Agric Admin degree in agricultural economics and management. Post graduate studies included a BCom Hons at Wits while in Johannesburg at the Development Bank (1986-87) and later a M.Sc. in agricultural economics at Michigan State University in the USA (1990-1991).
 

He has been involved in the real estate sector for the last 25 years having been the Managing Director of HL Hall and Sons Properties (Pty) Ltd until Feb 2018. James is currently the owner of Spaces Places & Partnerships, an urban management business that manages the Riverside Park mixed use node, which is a vibrant growing precinct on 185 Ha of land, and the Riverside Industrial Park.
 

An entrepreneurial and driven leader, mentor and lawyer with proven in-house corporate law experience in the life assurance and retirement funds industry, the regulators of retirement funds and the medical aid schemes industries, respectively; an accomplished advocate of the High Court of South Africa with excellent drafting and report writing expertise; a member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates with a Master of Laws (“LLM”) degree in International Commercial Law, over 20 years of relevant industry and leadership experience; a former Chairperson of the Appeals Committee of the Council for Medical Schemes (“CMS”), a former member of the Disputes Settlement Team at Discovery Medical Schemes, a former Special Adviser to a Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the current Ombudsman for the City of Johannesburg.

Career Summary

Johannesburg Metropolitan Council

National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Johannesburg Metropolitan Council

Advocate of the High Court: Member of the Johannesburg Society of Advocates
Earlier roles

General Counsel, Retail | bp Southern Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Durban & Cape Town
 

Senior Legal Advisor | Financial Services Board, Pretoria East

Legal Advisor | Old Mutual South Africa, Cape Town & Durban
Education

International Commercial Law (“LLM”) with merit | University of Kent (UK)

Bachelor of Laws (“LLB”) | University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Political Studies & Industrial Sociology | University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

Dr Patrick Hawkins Maduna Dr Maduna was born in Ngodwana, a farm situated about 50km west of Nelspruit where SAPPI is located. His family was affected by the forced removals of the then South African apartheid government where families were taken to Pienaar Trust (Msogwaba Trust) north-east of Nelspruit in 1963.

Dr Maduna received his primary education at Ngodwana and Kaapschehoop consecutively and obtained his junior certificate with a distinction in 1971 at Khumbula High School situated outside White River in the Mpumalanga Province. He obtained his Senior Certificate at the then Amanzimtoti Zulu Training College (now called Adams College) situated in Adams Mission, 8 km inland from Amanzimtoti south of Durban, in 1974. He participated in student activities and was elected as a prefect. He went on to further his undergraduate studies at the then University of the North (now called Limpopo), where he was registered for a B. Pharm degree. However, due to political upheavals at that university, he went to Durban where he registered at the then-University of Natal (Black Section) for an MBChB medical degree which he obtained in 1980. Dr

Maduna started his medical career at Themba Hospital in KaBokweni within the City of Mbombela where he did his medical internship. He was the first black medical doctor in Mbombela. After completing his internship, Dr Maduna continued his services at Themba Hospital as a medical officer and later as the first black medical superintendent of the hospital. At the same time, Dr Maduna furthered his studies and obtained his Masters’ Degree in Family Medicine in 1987 from the then Medical University of Southern Africa (MEDUNSA) now called Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. He was appointed as a part-time lecturer at the same university after that.

In 1988 Dr Maduna was appointed by the then Chief Minister of the KaNgwane Homeland government to the position of Minister of Health and Welfare, a position that assisted him to contribute to the improvement of health service delivery in the KaNgwane Homeland. When the CODESA process started in 1991, Dr Maduna represented the Inyandza National Movement (the ruling party of the homeland) where he chaired the CODESA Working Group 3 that developed the transitional constitution for South Africa. During this time, Dr Maduna also held the cabinet positions of Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, followed by that of Minister of Home Affairs in KaNgwane.

Dr Maduna left the public sector in 1994 to be full-time in his private practice in KaNyamazane as a specialist family physician. He continued with his part-time academic work with MEDUNSA until 2003 when he joined MEDUNSA as a senior lecturer and principal medical specialist in the department of Family Medicine and Primary Health care. During his tenure as the lecturer, Dr Maduna supported several post-graduate students in research. In support of students from other African states, Dr Maduna undertook numerous academic trips to countries such as Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

In 2004 Dr Maduna was appointed Chief Executive Officer for Dr George Mukhari Hospital, north of Pretoria. He was transferred to the Gauteng Department of Health head office in 2006 where he was made the Provincial Family Medicine Specialist, tasked to coordinate Family Medicine and Primary Health Care activities in the province. Dr Maduna was also given the responsibilities of Chief Director responsible for District Health Services for Johannesburg/West Rand and Tshwane/Metsweding regions.

Dr Maduna joined the Department of Defense in 2010 as a Lieutenant Colonel and Chief Specialist responsible for Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, based at 1 Military Hospital in Pretoria. At the same time, he was the head of the South African Military Service Phidisa Research Project on HIV and AIDS, in collaboration with the US Defence Force and the US National Institutes for Health. In the meantime, Dr Maduna obtained his Masters’ Degree from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom.

In 2014, Dr Maduna joined the Eastern Cape Department of Health (ECDOH) as Deputy Director-General responsible for clinical management services. During this time, he interacted with the four universities within the province and facilitated the formation of an academic forum that brought the four universities and the ECDOH together for joint planning, implementation and monitoring of academic programmes and research. In the meantime, Dr Maduna obtained his PhD from the University of Fort Hare focusing on clinical governance.

After retiring from full-time public, private and academic work in 2017, Dr Maduna served as a medical specialist responsible for clinical governance in the Mpumalanga Department of Health between 2017 and 2020, and as a technical specialist responsible for health systems strengthening for Right to Care NPC, seconded to the NDOH between 2022 and 2023. He is currently a member of the advisory committee for the Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), a member of the advisory panel of the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC) and the Health Ombud, a Director of Affinity Health Insurance, a Member of the Ehlanzeni Mental Health Review Board in Mpumalanga, and a member of the UMP Council.

Prof P.E. Lukhele-Olorunju is currently the Director of Research Management at the University of Mpumalanga. She has qualifications in Agricultural sciences; BSc Agriculture 1978 (Swaziland), MSc Plant Breeding 1982 (Nigeria) and PhD Plant Breeding/ Virology 1990 (USA). 

She has worked as a researcher in agricultural research institutions and lectured at three renowned universities (Swaziland, Nigeria and South Africa). As a researcher and educator in Nigeria, she released a number of groundnut varieties for the country and West African region and also graduated a number of international students at BSc, MSc and PhD levels. Other experiences include international consulting and management of international agricultural projects, collaborative research projects with CGIAR Institutions and University of Georgia (USA). Phindile managed three research institutions, as Group Executive, at the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa from 2002 to 2008. In January 2009, Phindile joined the University of Venda, South Africa, as Director of Research and Innovation. In July 2010 she moved to the Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) as Director of Research and later Interim CEO of AISA 1 September 2012- 31 March 2014. Phindile has served at Institutional Boards/Councils (Africa Institute of South Africa, Bioversity International and University of Mpumalanga). She is an ASI Fellow. 

The Faculty of Education is committed to producing competent, principled teacher graduates who make an impact in the schools where they choose to lead by serving. They are sent out with the purpose of improving our African society through their knowledge of reflective teaching practice, and the need for social justice. They shape the classroom. They define our greatest resource – the children of South Africa.

In an education situation, the student always comes first. The Faculty lecturers are therefore focused on the students, striving to inspire them to identify with their great calling – to be a Teacher! Content taught is informed by relevance to society today, aligning South Africa’s past with a developing democracy embedded in an ongoing technological revolution. Our future teachers engage with the local schools and community so that the theory taught is practised in the classroom. Moreover, students are challenged to know themselves; to develop critical thinking skills; to take responsibility for their words and actions, and to remain lifelong learners.

Prof Moses Mbewe originates from the Nkomazi region of the Province of Mpumalanga, in South Africa.  He received his early education in the same area up to high school.  He furthered his education by obtaining his BSc (4 years) in Biology at Texas Southern University, in the USA, graduating with Summa cum Laude status in 1989.  He did his postgraduate studies (Masters and PhD) at the University of Cambridge, Department of Genetics, in the UK from 1991 to 1994 in Microbial Genetics and Molecular Biology.  He went on to become the Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow in Microbiology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 1995 to 96.  He worked as senior lecturer teaching Microbiology at the University of the North, which became University of Limpopo from 1996 to 2004 and 2012 to 2015. During the second stint at UL, he served as Head of Department of Water and Sanitation and Acting Director of the School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences.  He also worked at the Northwest University as an Associate Professor and Director of the School of Agricultural Sciences from 2005 to 2011 teaching Microbiology.  He assumed his duties at the University Mpumalanga as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences at the beginning of 2016.  He has served as Thrust Leader for Biotechnology at the University of Limpopo, as Board member of the Agricultural Research Council, South African Society for Microbiology, Northwest Nguni Cattle Development Trust, Limpopo Agriculture MEC Advisory Council, and ordinary member of the World Economic Forum 2001-2004.  He is currently serving as Chairperson of the National Task Force for the Containment of Polio in Labs (NTF), a ministerial advisory committee for the National Department of Health, and Council on Higher Education (HEQC) as Programme Evaluator.  He is further serving as a Council and EXCO member of the University of Mpumalanga Council.

Over the years, he has been actively participating in political organisations and progressive civil institutions. In some way that has always been a stepping stone. Ndebele is serving as a Member of Parliament at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association in Africa Region, sworn in at Ugandan Parliament and a Member of the South African Institute of International Affairs. He is also a South African Director at Pan-African Youth Council for Peace and Security and an Advocate at SADC Youth Forum. He served as a National Secretary at the Black Management Forum Student Chapter in the year 2018/19, as a Provincial Executive Committee member at the South African Student Congress in 2019/20 and as an alumnus of Asia World Model United Nations II Thailand, allocated for World Trade Organisation- Botswana member state.  Currently working towards his Doctoral degree.

Professor Modimowabarwa holds a doctorate in Administration from the University of Pretoria and received a Certificate in International Economic and Financial Negotiations from the International Institute of Public Administration in France. He is a recipient of the 2022 Star of Discovery Global Award, WHITRAP under the auspices of UNESCO.
 
He is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management, Commerce and Law at the University of Venda and former Divisional Strategic Lead and Research Director at the Human Sciences Research Council. Prof Kanyane currently serves as a member of the University of Mpumalanga Council as a ministerial appointee since 2020. In the Council, he chairs Strategic Committee and serves on HR and Remuneration Committees as a member.
 
He is a renowned researcher in South Africa who has an extensive range of experience in governance, public ethics, accountability, public finance, service delivery and intergovernmental relations within the broader field of Public Administration. Professor Kanyane participated in BRICS activities as SABTT Chair of the Political and Economic Governance Cluster and various fourth industrial revolution discussions.
 
Prof Kanyane reached over 100-mark participation in local and international conference activities and produced over 100 scientific academic and research outputs including those in peer-reviewed and accredited journals as a social science research scientist.
 
Prof Kanyane scooped two HSRC Senior Research Excellence Awards in 2015 and 2018 and has extensive experience in public administration and a speciality in governance for more than twenty years.

Dr Nomvula Twaise is currently the Director of Student Housing at the University of Mpumalanga. Having worked extensively in the area of HIV and AIDS at Walter Sisulu University, where she started working as a Student Counsellor/Psychologist and a Student Affairs Practitioner for 12 years. Her work led her into caring for students living with HIV and AIDS, and this cause drove her to pioneer the establishment of the Centre for HIV and AIDS in the University when Anti-retroviral drugs in South Africa were not offered yet. She worked as the Director of the Centre for HIV and AIDS for 8 years. 

Dr Twaise obtained a BA, BA Hons at the then University of Transkei. On obtaining a scholarship to study abroad, she then proceeded to study MA in Psychology at Wayne State University, Michigan, USA. She further advanced her studies by obtaining an Executive MBA from the Business School of Netherlands/South Africa. She continued to study while working and obtained her PhD in Psychology from Nelson Mandela University. She is a TRE practitioner and has just added executive and management coaching to her skills. 
 

Since the completion of her DCom Economics at UNISA in 2012, Dr Eggink has been involved in research.  She wrote several papers, presented it at conferences and published it.  Dr Eggink’s doctoral thesis was focused on the role of innovation in economic development, and she developed a conceptual model of an innovation system for. Dr Eggink’s research is currently focused on the enhancement of innovation through entrepreneurship.  She received an Academic Excellence award in 2012 and the merit award for Woman Researcher of the Year 2013 of the Faculty Economics & Finance, Tshwane University of Technology.

In the field of community involvement Dr Eggink has played an active role.  Apart from the contract work for the Mpumalanga Provincial Government by compiling an information and research inventory, and conducting a survey on the industrial development of the province, she participated in several forums and committees of the Mpumalanga Province. Some of these forums or committees include the Provincial Economic Forum/Think Tank; Mpumalanga Province research steering committee; Mpumalanga Development Profile task team; the Mpumalanga Independent Research Forum (MIRF); adjudication committee of the Mpumalanga Export Awards; and Task team for the development of the “Poverty eradication and coordination strategy”.