BLOEMFONTEIN – The Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof. Pamela Dube will not complete her five-year term as she has decided to take early retirement due to ill-health. The early retirement will be effected from 31 December.
In a statement, the Council said it had accepted her decision, which was due to ill-health. The Council has further expressed its appreciation to Dube for her leadership, commitment, and contribution to the university during her tenure which officially began on 1 January 2023. This marks the beginning of the institution’s search for a suitable replacement.
Trailblazing in academics, Dube became the first woman the CUT appointed as Vice-Chancellor. In accordance with the CUT Statute, the Council stated it will consider the governance implications of Dube’s notice, including acting arrangements, and the process to be followed in respect of the leadership transition to preserve business continuity, sustain strategic momentum and minimise disruption to the university’s operations.
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“On behalf of the university, we extend our sincere appreciation to Prof. Dube for her dedicated service, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of CUT. We thank her for the significant role she has played in shaping the university’s strategic vision and strengthening its position within the higher education sector. We wish her every success in her future endeavours and look forward to maintaining a positive and enduring relationship with her,” the Council said.
The Council stated that Dube’s tenure has been characterised by visionary leadership, resilience and a steadfast pursuit of institutional excellence. Under her leadership, CUT has strengthened its academic and research profile, expanded strategic partnerships, fostered a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, advanced student success, and accelerated the implementation of Vision 2030, positioning the university for greater national and global impact.
Reflecting on her journey, Prof. Dube described it as a privilege to serve and lead CUT. She expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the University Council, executive management team, staff, students, alumni and the broader university community for their trust, collaboration, and support throughout her tenure. She also reaffirmed that, although she will be stepping down from her role, she will continue to support the success of CUT and the higher education sector.
Delivering her inaugural address titled “The Question of Technology and the Human at a University of Technology”, Dube stated that higher education in South Africa is increasingly under siege by violent threats to the academy and its leadership, acts of corruption and disregard for institutional integrity, instances of dysfunctional governance structures, challenges of student funding, gender-based violence, mental health issues and the slow pace of meaningful transformation, among others.
