“The Unisa Council is confident that Prof Makhanya (pictured) has the qualities of leadership and management skills necessary to lead this institution,” said Dr Mathews Phosa, chairperson of Council.  “We are pleased to make this appointment after a fair and rigorous process was followed to find the right person for this monumental task."

“We are convinced that Prof Makhanya will be a worthy successor to Prof Pityana who will leave very big shoes to fill, and whose vision and management style will have left a great legacy."

Prof Mandlenkosi Stanley Makhanya - pictured here on the far right with Prof Pityana, Prof Shadrack Gutto, head of the Centre for African Renaissance Studies and former president Thabo Mbeki - joined Unisa in 1989 in the Department of Sociology.  He rose through the academic ranks to become Dean of the then Faculty of Human Sciences in 2000.  In 2004 he was appointed Executive Dean and in 2008 he became Unisa’s Pro Vice-Chancellor.

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