Pretoria: Higher Education and Training Minister, Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, has congratulated former Cabinet Minister, Dr Naledi Pandor, on her recent appointment as an Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria (UP).
According to South African Government News Agency, Nkabane stated that this achievement is a fitting recognition of Pandor’s extensive contributions to the South African higher education sector. Pandor has served admirably as the Minister of Education; Science and Technology; Higher Education and Training; and more recently, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).
Nkabane emphasized Pandor’s significant contribution to reconfiguring the South African higher education landscape in the post-apartheid era. She ensured that the restructuring of the higher education sector serves South Africans irrespective of race, gender, and other forms of exclusion.
The Minister noted Pandor’s pivotal role in transforming the South African higher education syste
m and promoting social justice and equality through progressive policies. “South Africa has positioned itself at the forefront of science, technology, and innovation, thanks to the solid foundation laid by Dr Pandor,” Nkabane said in a statement.
She further remarked that the University of Pretoria had made an excellent and befitting appointment. Pandor’s knowledge and passion for transformation will ‘undoubtedly enrich the university and the broader higher education community.’
Nkabane expressed her personal admiration for Pandor, stating, “It is an honour to stand on the shoulders of giants like Dr. Pandor, whose mentorship and guidance continue to inspire me.” She added that the Department of Higher Education and Training wishes Dr Pandor well in her new role and looks forward to the positive impact she will continue to make within the higher education space.
Meanwhile, University Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Francis Petersen, commented on Pandor’s new role at UP’s Centre for the Advancement
of Sustainable Higher Education Futures. Pandor will contribute to research, and student and staff development.
At a recent event held at UP’s Hatfield campus, Petersen emphasized Pandor’s impact on education, policy, and innovation. Her appointment followed an external peer-review process and was vetted by the Senior Appointments Committee of the UP Senate.
Petersen highlighted that Pandor’s academic achievements, including her doctoral research on transformation in the South African higher education context, reflect her deep commitment to shaping a progressive and inclusive sector. The Vice-Chancellor praised Pandor’s dedication to her academic goals despite the challenges of balancing the responsibilities of a Cabinet Minister and PhD student.