Gqeberha (Formerly Port Elizabeth) – Former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr. Naledi Pandor has been inaugurated as Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University.
Speaking at the auspicious event on Wednesday, 8 April 2026, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela said: “It is both an honour and a privilege to stand before you on this occasion… The inauguration of Dr Naledi Pandor as Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University”.
Minister Manamela added: “Today is not merely ceremonial. It is symbolic. It marks the convergence of leadership, legacy, and the enduring pursuit of knowledge that defines this institution.
“Dr. Pandor, allow me to extend my heartfelt congratulations on your appointment.
“Nelson Mandela University could not have chosen a more fitting steward of its values, its aspirations, and its future.”
Minister Manamela stated that the role of Chancellor was not simply titular.
“It is profoundly influential,” he said, adding: “It calls for a custodian of vision, a champion of academic excellence, and an ambassador who carries the identity of the institution into the world”.
The higher education minister said the role also demands wisdom, integrity, and a deep commitment to the transformative power of education.
Minister Manamela stated that Dr. Pandor has all these qualities “in abundance”.
He said Dr. Pandor’s career has been defined by service, intellectual depth, and a steadfast commitment to advancing education in our country.
“From your years as Minister of Basic Education and later Minister of Higher Education and Training, to your continued contributions in shaping public policy and discourse, you have consistently demonstrated what it means to lead with purpose,” said Minister Manamela.
He recalled that he served alongside Dr. Pandor when she was Minister of Higher Education and Training, saying it was a “privilege”.
On Dr. Pandor’s doctoral work, Minister Manamela stated: “Your doctoral work, which focused on interrogating the contested meaning of transformation in post-apartheid higher education, speaks not only to your scholarly rigour, but to your courage to engage with the most complex and urgent questions facing our society.
“That you completed this work while serving at the highest levels of government is nothing short of extraordinary. It is a mark of both discipline and conviction.
“It is this rare combination of intellectual insight and practical leadership that makes your appointment today so significant.”
On Higher Education and Training in general, Minister Manamela said: ‘’We must deepen access, improve student success, and ensure that our universities are responsive not only to the needs of the economy, but to the broader project of building a just, equitable, and capable state.
“Our universities must remain spaces of rigorous thought, open dialogue, and fearless inquiry.
“They must produce not only graduates, but citizens and individuals equipped to think critically, act ethically, and contribute meaningfully to the development of our society.”
In this regard, the minister said Nelson Mandela University carries a unique responsibility, grounded in the values of its namesake: courage, humility, and a resolute commitment to justice.
“Dr. Pandor, your leadership as Chancellor comes at a time when these values must not only be upheld, but actively advanced,” said Minister Manamela.
“Your voice, your experience, and your vision will be vital in guiding conversations, strengthening partnerships, and inspiring both students and scholars to rise to the demands of our time.”
The minister said the future of South Africa will be shaped in institutions such as this one, but only if “we are deliberate about the kind of future we are building”.
He said it will be shaped by the courage to confront inequality, the discipline to build capable institutions, and the imagination to see education not only as a pathway to employment, but as a foundation for freedom and human development.
“Today, in inaugurating you as Chancellor, we affirm our confidence not only in your continued leadership, but in the enduring power of higher education to change lives and transform our nation,” Minister Manamela concluded.
“We look forward to walking this journey with you.”
Dr. Pandor is also the chairperson of the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
The dignitaries in attendance included Chairperson of the Council, Judge Nambitha Dambuza, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Sibongile Muthwa, and members of Council.
