Johannesburg – Public institutions earn trust not through declarations of intent but through the lived experience of the people they serve.
This was the central message delivered by Advocate Mojanku Gumbi, Chancellor of the University of Venda, in her address at the University Chancellors’ Thought Leadership Event hosted by Universities South Africa (USAf) at Wits University.
Speaking on “Universities as catalysts for societal uplift, inclusion and ethical leadership”, Advocate Gumbi offered a candid and grounded reflection on what society expects from its universities, and what universities must do to meet that expectation.
Universities must matter in people’s lives
Advocate Gumbi positioned herself not as a representative of chancellors, but as a messenger of societal expectation.
Communities, she argued, look to universities not only for education, but for tangible improvements in their daily lives, such as safer communities, better governance, economic opportunity and ethical leadership.
“The communities that depend on these institutions should not be the ones that suffer what they must,” she said, alluding to the moral imperative that universities must never become detached from the people they claim to serve.
Her address challenged universities to confront a persistent and troubling disconnect where extensive research is conducted across the country, yet communities often see little visible change.
Municipalities are studied, drought solutions modelled, agricultural guidance produced and gender‑based violence analysed, yet the lived reality of many South Africans remains unchanged.
Universities that act, not only analyse
Advocate Gumbi described universities as central actors in South Africa’s nation‑building project.
She outlined the foundational pillars of a cohesive and prosperous society, namely shared identity, effective governance, economic inclusion, social cohesion, safety and human capital development, arguing that universities have a direct role in advancing each of these.
Advocate Gumbi noted that education is not merely one pillar among many; it is the driver of all others.
Referencing global evidence, she emphasised that education improves economic prosperity, reduces crime, strengthens democratic participation and equips societies to tackle complex challenges such as climate change, inequality and resource scarcity.
“People are not fighting for ideas in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, and to secure the future of their children,” she said, adding that universities must therefore be active participants in building ethical, inclusive and prosperous communities.
A call for universities to reclaim their role as the conscience of the nation
Drawing on African intellectual history, Advocate Gumbi reminded delegates that African universities were once centres of moral authority, social leadership and civic protection.
Scholars were not confined to ivory towers; they were advisors to kings, defenders of citizens and custodians of ethical governance.
She contrasted this legacy with modern universities that sometimes appear inward‑looking, procedural, or disconnected from societal realities.
Mahmood Mamdani’s critique of universities as “gated communities” served as a warning that institutions that wall themselves off from society cannot claim to serve it.
Ethical leadership begins with institutional integrity
Advocate Gumbi argued that universities cannot demand public trust if they do not first demonstrate ethical conduct themselves.
She invoked the legal maxim “ex turpi causa non oritur actio” (no action arises from a dishonourable cause) to emphasise that universities must “come with clean hands” when engaging society.
This includes:
- Ethical governance and transparent decision‑making.
- Protecting student dignity and ensuring fair treatment.
- Addressing internal injustices with seriousness, not defensiveness.
- Taking principled positions on human rights and social justice.
Advocate Gumbi commended universities that have taken ethical stances on global issues, noting that institutions are not abstract entities but composites of people who must act with conscience.
A practical leadership framework for societal uplift
Advocate Gumbi listed a set of priorities for universities seeking to strengthen their societal impact and rebuild public trust:
- Advance social mobility and access by widening opportunity, supporting first‑generation students, and reducing structural barriers.
- Prioritise student success and dignity, ensuring that every student experiences fairness, safety and respect.
- Deepen community impact through research translation, local partnerships and visible improvements in people’s lives.
- Strengthen social cohesion by fostering inclusive campus cultures and producing graduates committed to democratic values.
- Accelerate transformation and inclusion, particularly for women and historically marginalised groups, in leadership, staffing and curriculum.
Universities must be catalysts
Advocate Gumbi was adamant that universities must ultimately reclaim their role as catalysts for uplift, inclusion and ethical leadership, ensuring that their work translates into real improvements in the lives of the people they serve.
She laid down a challenge to university leaders: South Africa does not need universities that merely comment on societal problems.
It needs universities that help solve them; ethically, courageously, and collaboratively.
