Page 8 - Installation of Chancellor 8 April 2026

COMMENDATION OF citizenship. These commitments resonate deeply with university in service of society — committed to

the ethos of Nelson Mandela University, whose values excellence in teaching, research, innovation, and
THE CHANCELLOR — dignity, equality, justice, and service to humanity social engagement.

In her, the University finds not only a respected national
— are drawn directly from the legacy of its namesake.
leader, but also a scholar, an advocate for knowledge,
Dr Pandor’s intellectual leadership, lifelong devotion and a steadfast believer in the power of education to
Dr Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor, the current extraordinary contribution to nation-building. Since to education and distinguished public service render change lives.
Chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, 1994, she has held several senior leadership roles in her uniquely suited to assume the ceremonial and
stands among the most esteemed intellectual leaders government, each characterised by intellectual rigour moral leadership of Chancellor of Nelson Mandela Today, as Nelson Mandela University installs Dr Grace
and public servants of South Africa’s democratic era. and transformative intent. As Minister of Education, University. In this role, she becomes the custodian of Naledi Mandisa Pandor as its Chancellor, we honour a
Her life’s work embodies an unwavering commitment she launched the Kha Ri Gude (“Let us learn”) Mass one of the University’s most profound responsibilities: lifetime of intellect, service, and leadership devoted
to education, scholarship, democratic governance Literacy Campaign in 2008 — a landmark social justice the conferral of qualifications upon graduates who will to the advancement of humanity through education.
and the advancement of society through knowledge initiative that addressed adult illiteracy among those go on to shape society and the world.
exercised with ethical purpose. Across academia, excluded from schooling under apartheid, dramatically Dr Pandor, the University community welcomes you
public service and global engagement, she has reducing levels of educational deprivation. As Chancellor, Dr Pandor will no doubt strengthen with pride and deep appreciation, and looks forward
consistently demonstrated leadership anchored in the University’s identity as a transformative African to your stewardship, guidance and inspiration.
principle, intellect and a profound sense of public As Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Pandor
responsibility. led South Africa’s successful bid to host a major
component of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA),
Born into a family deeply shaped by the struggle for one of the most ambitious scientific projects ever
justice and equality, Dr Pandor’s early life was infused undertaken. Located in the Karoo, the SKA has
with the values of service, courage and intellectual strengthened African science, advanced data and
freedom. These formative influences have guided a manufacturing capabilities, and positioned South
distinguished career spanning education, governance, Africa as a vital player in global scientific collaboration.
diplomacy and national leadership. Before entering Later, as Minister of Higher Education and Training,
public office, she served as an English teacher and she played a pivotal role in strengthening research
later as a lecturer at the University of Bophuthatswana capacity, advancing innovation, supporting emerging
and the University of Cape Town. Her academic scholars and integrating South Africa more deeply
formation includes two Master’s degrees, one in into global knowledge networks.
Education from the University of London (1979) and
the other in Linguistics from Stellenbosch University Dr Pandor has also served as Minister of Home Affairs
(1997), through which she contributed to scholarly and, from 2019, as Minister of International Relations
inquiry and helped shape democratic consciousness and Cooperation, where her diplomatic leadership
during a turbulent period in South Africa’s history. reflected South Africa’s commitment to ethical
multilateralism and global justice. Amid her public
She obtained a PhD in Education from the University responsibilities, she was awarded a PhD in Education
of Pretoria in 2019, titled: The contested meaning of by the University of Pretoria in 2019, an embodiment of
transformation and higher education in post-apartheid her belief in lifelong learning. Across all portfolios, she
South Africa. She has also received honorary doctorates has demonstrated principled leadership, intellectual
from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, depth and a steadfast commitment to transformation.
Stellenbosch University, the University of Lisbon
(Portugal) and University College Dublin (Ireland). On Throughout her career, Dr Pandor has been a resolute
28 February 2025, she was also appointed Honorary champion of the role of universities as engines of social
Professor in Education at the University of Pretoria. progress. She has consistently argued that higher
education institutions must generate knowledge,
Dr Pandor’s transition into public service in the cultivate ethical leadership, contribute to economic
democratic era marked the beginning of an and social development, and strengthen democratic

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