The University of Cape Town (UCT) has installed a new chancellor who will be taking over the reins from Graça Machel. The President has welcomed the installation of the new chancellor.
Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe is UCT’s new chancellor, making her the sixth chancellor in their history.
Succeeding Graça Machel, Moloi-Motsepe is also the second black woman to serve as chancellor at the University. She was appointed as chancellor back in January 2020, however due to Covid-19 pandemic her installation and investiture was delayed for almost 2 years.
In her inauguration speech, Moloi-Motsepe elaborated on a number of key themes that UCT is well placed as an institution to assist the country in facing what these themes entail. These themes included 4IR, Inclusion, Africa, Climate Change and A Value Shift.
She said, “I believe that UCT, as one of the best universities in the world and the best on the African continent, has a very important role to play to ensure that we are more inclusive in our quest to become a center of excellence”.
Moloi-Motsepe explained that the institution has a responsibility to produce graduates who are compassionate and who understand their respective roles in society.
UCT vice chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng praised the appointment of the new chancellor. She revealed that Moloi-Motsepe has played an active role in raising funds for students who could not graduate due to unpaid tuition fees.
Moloi-Motsepe says that people of her generation who grew up in townships and rural communities in South Africa owe part of their success to the generosity of others. She says her and her husband, Patrice Motsepe, started the Motsepe Foundation to support students from underprivileged communities.
She said, “I’m very excited to see that UCT has played a very very important role in partnership with its alumni, with business in South Africa and globally with government, with philanthropists and foundations and has contributed close to R1.4 billion to ensure that students who cannot access education higher centers of learning are able to come to UCT”.
