Walter Sisulu University (WSU) has appointed its first female vice-chancellor and principal.
Professor Rushiella Songca will take up her new position officially on April 1 2021, though she could be in place before then.
She takes over from Professor Rob Midgley, whose term is coming to an end.
Songca said it was a privilege to be part of the advancement of a university with such a rich history and legacy.
“This university is the result of a merger of three very strong institutions, and therefore it has a responsibility to contribute to the development of the Eastern Cape in particular and SA and the African continent in general, while offering access to quality education and engendering conducive work environments for both its workers and its academics,” she said.
Songca has been deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academic affairs and research, as well as a founding member of the editorial board of the International Journal of African Renaissance Studies.
She is also an admitted advocate of the high court.
Songca has taught at the then University of Durban-Westville, University of Natal, University of Transkei, University of Limpopo and University of SA.
Her area of research is children’s rights.
Songca’s understanding of the SA legal system is notable, and she has made submissions to the SA Law Reform Commission, and contributed to technical reports to parliament, the Public Protector and the Human Rights Commission.
WSU council chair Tembeka Ngcukaitobi said the council held a special sitting on Monday where a unanimous decision was taken to appoint Songca after a rigorous selection process.
“Prof Songca demonstrated an excellent combination of experience, clarity of vision and grasp of the higher education terrain. She has been focused on the fulfilment of the academic mission of the university, which we were impressed by.
“In this age the WSU needs dynamic leadership which can adapt to the challenges of the moment while creating a firm and stable financial basis for the sustainability of the university.”
The council expected Songca to focus on the core business of academic integrity of the programmes of the institution.
“We expect her to bring respectability to our degrees and diplomas and to position the university to play a leading role in the Eastern Cape and SA.
“We expect her to affirm the university as a leading African university, which is embedded in its social setting. Finally we expect her to lead a financially stable university,” he said.
“Prof Songca’s term is effective on April 1 2021. Council, however, is in discussion with her on the possibility of her commencing some of her functions earlier than the envisaged date.
“Since the role is a substantive one, Prof Songca will need a period of time to adjust to the role. The next three months will be used for this adjustment, until it is completed before her assumption of the new role,” Ngcukaitobi said.
Student representative council member Lifa Makonco said when women were in leadership positions he always had high expectations, believing women could bring a “mother’s love to her children and the country”.
“Bringing stability is the priority which is expected by every stakeholder in the university. We were previously excluded in the decision-making process.
“I expect her management to be a disciplined one that consists of a set of five general functions: planning, organising, staffing, leading and controlling.”
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