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Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi appointed Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University

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The Nelson Mandela University Council wishes to announce and congratulate Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi as its new Chancellor from 1 April.

Dr Fraser-Moleketi is a leader of high integrity who has devoted her life and career to issues of human rights, equality and social justice. This drive and commitment over many decades towards empowering others aligns directly with those of our namesake, making her the ideal titular head of Nelson Mandela University.

Dr Fraser-Moleketi is no newcomer to the University after being awarded an honorary doctorate last year for her extensive contribution to leadership in social and economic transformation, with the specific emphasis on the empowerment of women.

She has led an exemplary career, having worked in government, civil society and the private sector over the past four decades and brings to the University a wealth of expertise and extensive networks.

She holds a Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of Pretoria, is a fellow of the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and holds an honorary professorship at Stellenbosch University.

“I am deeply honoured and humbled by this appointment, and hope to serve the University well,” says Dr Fraser-Moleketi.

“The University has a huge contribution to make. It is especially key to the economy of the Eastern Cape, and beyond, with its strengths in the sciences, the blue economy and of course, health sciences, with the future medical school.”

Personally, Dr Fraser-Moleketi hopes to add value in addressing the challenges of inequality, poverty eradication and job creation.

“I look forward to my tenure with Nelson Mandela University.”

Dr Fraser-Moleketi played a key role in preparing the ANC for the first democratic elections in 1994 as National Deputy Elections Coordinator. She was elected to South Africa’s first democratic parliament in April 1994 and served in three consecutive parliaments until her resignation in September 2008. She was appointed to the Executive and Cabinet of President Nelson Mandela, first as Deputy Minister for Welfare and Population Development and thereafter as Minister for Welfare and Population Development. She also served in the cabinet of President Thabo Mbeki for two consecutive terms as Minister of Public Service and Administration.

Our new Chancellor serves on various boards across academia, government and development organisations. She served on the board of UNITAR (United Nations Institute for Training and Research), and as Deputy Chair of the Committee of Public Service and Administration, a subsidiary body of ECOSOC, United Nations. She was re-appointed to CEPA for the period 2018 to 2021. She served on the Reference Group on the Quadrennial Comprehensive Policy Review of the United Nations Development System convened by the Deputy Secretary of the United Nations. She is also on the Advisory Board of the Institute for the Study of International Development (ISID) at McGill University, Montreal, Canada, and is presently Chair of the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) Council and a member many other national and international bodies and boards.

A strong supporter of intergenerational dialogue, Dr Fraser-Moleketi is a mentor to young women and men across the continent on leadership and resilience, towards enabling them to play their part in determining Africa’s destiny.

Dr Fraser-Moleketi succeeds another high-performing businesswoman, Santie Botha, who finished her term of office late last year.

We are deeply honoured and privileged to have a woman of Dr Fraser-Moleketi’s calibre join our institution for a four-year period starting on 1 April 2018. We wish her every success as we embark on an exciting new era for Nelson Mandela University, fittingly in the centenary year of the birth of our namesake.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.