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Professor Puleng LenkaBula is the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa), a position she has held since 1 January 2021. She is the first woman, the first black woman, and only the third black person to lead Unisa in its more than 147 years of existence. LenkaBula holds a Doctorate (2006/7) in Ethics (Theology and Philosophy) from Unisa, with a specialization in Social Ethics focusing on the ethics of the economy, ecology, and politics. Her doctoral thesis examined bioprospecting and intellectual property rights on African plant commons and knowledge from an ethical perspective. She earned a Master’s Degree (MTS) in Social Ethics from St Andrews College at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada in 1995, and completed her undergraduate studies at the National University of Lesotho with majors in English, Theology, and Education.
Prior to her current role, LenkaBula served in various senior positions, including Vice-Rector for Institutional Change, Student Affairs, and Community Engagement at the University of the Free State; Executive Dean of Student Affairs at the University of the Witwatersrand; Dean of Student Affairs and Director in the office of the Vice-Chancellor at Unisa; and Executive Director of Research and Projects at the Institute for Contextual Theology. She has held international roles such as Executive Consultant on Africa for the World Alliance of Reformed Churches and advisor to the World Council of Churches on poverty, wealth, and ecology. LenkaBula is a published scholar with books including Choose Life, Act in Hope and Prophet of the South, as well as numerous refereed journal articles. Her research interests center on the intersections of ethics, political economy, ecology, and feminist theory, particularly justice, intellectual property rights, and ethical questions in the economy. She has supervised graduate students and served on boards including the Council for the Development of Social Sciences Research in Africa (CODESRIA). LenkaBula was re-appointed for a second term as Vice-Chancellor in 2024.
The Public Protector's report reveals maladministration in Unisa's appointment of retired staffer Johannes Matlala, breaching policies and raising conflict concerns. Explore implications for SA higher ed.
Leaders from Unisa, UJ, and UFS participated in the THE Africa Universities Summit 2026 in Nairobi, focusing on talent, innovation, and resilient higher education for Africa's future.
Unisa VC Puleng LenkaBula calls for South African universities to reclaim African identity, bridging knowledge to impact amid decolonization efforts.
Unisa's launch of the UNESCO-UNEVOC Network Centre on March 23, 2026, promises to revolutionize TVET, tackling youth unemployment and skills gaps in South Africa and beyond.
Unisa makes history as the first African university partnering with Messe Frankfurt South Africa, bridging academia and industry at Techtextil 2026 to drive textile advancements and job creation.
Unisa's March 2026 media briefing reveals over 50,000 annual graduates from 2021-2025, research surges, and financial growth, positioning it as SA's higher ed powerhouse.
Unisa achieves 42.7% research output surge per DHET, rising to 6th nationally. VC Prof LenkaBula highlights milestones, rankings, and 2026 vision amid SA HE transformation.
Unisa secures high court wins against critics for false claims against VC Puleng LenkaBula, highlighting defamation risks in SA higher education.
Unisa's historic acquisition of a 20-hectare airport marks it as Africa's first university-owned aviation hub, boosting practical training in aeronautics and drones amid SA skills shortages.
Unisa's landmark partnership with UNAM for the Africa Millimetre Telescope expands its research footprint, boosting continental science and STEM opportunities in South Africa and Namibia.
Unisa appoints 863 adjunct academics in a groundbreaking program to address faculty shortages and enhance ODeL teaching amid SA's higher ed crisis. Explore stories, roles, and impacts.
Unisa appoints 863 adjunct academics in a groundbreaking program to address staff shortages and higher education challenges in South Africa, offering pathways for PhD holders and boosting ODL capacity.
Explore how Unisa's recent Lekgotla reinforces student success strategies amid SA higher ed challenges like throughput rates and funding.
Explore Unisa's recent High Court wins against defamatory critics, including Mandisa Mashego's R550k penalty, amid efforts to rebuild trust in South African higher education.
Explore the surge in AI cheating across South African universities like UNISA and UCT, detection challenges, policies, and solutions for preserving higher education integrity.
Explore the rising AI cheating crisis in South Africa universities, UNISA's warnings, detection challenges, policies, and solutions for academic integrity.
Explore the surge in AI cheating at South African universities, UNISA's warnings, detection issues, and innovative solutions for academic integrity.
Explore UNISA's 2026 Academic Opening highlights, Prof. LenkaBula's speech on leadership amid global fragility, reclaiming Africa's intellectual futures, key initiatives, and implications for South African higher education.
Unisa's ITLC 2026 conference highlights AI's role in South African higher education, tackling inclusion, ethics, and transformation for equitable learning.
Unisa records a 44.3 percent increase in research output units in the 2024 DHET sector report, rising to second place nationally and contributing 10 percent of total sector output.
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Photo by Sunny Ng on Unsplash
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