The University of Mpumalanga (UMP) is pleased to announce the appointment of Prof Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC): Teaching and Learning, Mr Richard Flame as the Executive Director-Operations and Prof Ndiko Ludidi as the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences with effect from January 2024.
Prof Davhana-Maselesele will be responsible to provide strategic leadership for all aspects related to Teaching and Learning. Prior to her appointment at UMP, Prof Davhana-Maselesele was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic Affairs and Research (Acting) at Walter Sisulu University (WSU). In her academic career, Prof Davhana-Maselesele has held key academic leadership positions which includes being a Rector of the Mthatha Campus at WSU, an Executive Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, a Vice Rector for Teaching/Learning and Research, and a Campus Rector of Mafikeng at North-West University (NWU). Prof Davhana-Maselesele holds a PhD in Programme Development from the University of Johannesburg.
Mr Richard Flame will be responsible to provide strategic leadership for all aspects related to Operations. Prior to joining UMP, Mr Flame was Managing Director of Kratos Facilities Management Services. In his professional career, Mr Flame held several managerial positions which includes being the Executive Director of the Facilities Management at Broll Property Group Programme, Head: Strategic Infrastructure Management at Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Group Manager: Property Infrastructure and Services at CSIR and Nuclear Facilities Manager at Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa). Mr Flame holds an MBA from the University of South Africa.
Prof Ndiko Ludidi will be responsible to provide strategic leadership for the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. Prior to joining UMP, Prof Ludidi was a Professor of Biotechnology at the University of the Western Cape (UWC). In his academic career, Prof Ludidi has held key several academic leadership positions at UWC which includes being Head of the Department of Biotechnology, Deputy Dean for Research and Postgraduate Studies: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Acting Dean: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Acting Director of the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Food Security. Prior to his stint at UWC, Prof Ludidi was a Senior Lecturer at Stellenbosch University and a Lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand. Prof Ludidi holds a PhD in Biotechnology from the University of the Western Cape.
“The appointment of Prof Mashudu Davhana-Maselesele as the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC): Teaching and Learning, Mr Richard Flame as the Executive Director-Operations and Prof Ndiko Ludidi as the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences coincides with our 10
th anniversary as the University of Mpumalanga. Over the years, we have grown in stature and academic offerings. In the academic year 2023, we offered 65 programmes ranging from Higher Certificates to Doctoral Degrees and had more than 8,400 enrolled. This year, we will be offering 72 programmes, and we will have an enrolment of about 9,800 students. We strongly believe that they will contribute positively to the academic project of the University and in our pursuit of being
An African University leading in creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation” says Prof Thoko Mayekiso, UMP Vice-Chancellor.