Speaking to OFM News, University spokesperson Seithati Semenokane says that Mrwetyana brings 40 years of an illustrious career in higher education to an end after joining the University in 2013.

Semenokane says that Mrwetyana has served on several bodies, including the National Registrar’s Forum, and has won several awards.

"Dr Mrwetyana has been lauded as a passionate and resilient leader, who always encouraged her team to reach for greater achievements, especially the women who have worked with her. She cemented herself in her position and has proven to be a force to be reckoned with for her remarkable contribution in matters of student and university governance oversight roles. CUT is proud that Dr Pinky Mrwetyana chose to complete her career here and we wish her well in her retirement" Semenokane says.

Semenokane says Mrwetyana’s awards include a grant by the Association of Commonwealth Universities to participate in seminars for African university leaders on “Leadership and Strategic Change in Higher Education”; the Bram Fischer Oxford South Africa Award; a grant by DEVTECH for the Tertiary Linkages Project; and the SABUFSEP Fellowship by the African American Institute in New York.

Reflecting back to Mrwetyana’s interview for the registrar post, the question – why must we appoint you as your counterparts have similar competencies - was posed to Mrwetyana to which she simply replied: “Other than my competencies, I am a very resilient person, I don’t quit, never. If I’m set on doing something I will remain on course until the mission is accomplished. It’s a proud day for me because I did just that at the CUT,” quotes Semenokane.

Furthermore, Mrwetyana holds a BA (History and Anthropology majors); UED (English and History Methods); BEd; and MEd (Instructional Technology) from the University of Fort Hare; an MEd (Curriculum Studies: History) from Rhodes University; and a PhD (Technology in Education) from the University of Natal. She is currently completing modules towards the Master’s Degree in Business Leadership at the University Of South Africa (UNISA), adds Semenokane.

Semenokane ends by quoting Prof. David Ngidi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning at CUT, who said “She’s (Mrwetyana) a storm-calmer, especially when the temperature would flare up during meetings, she would say: “colleagues calm down” and we would listen. She has been motherly, always offering many of us a shoulder to cry on. We will miss her wisdom and deep knowledge and understanding of the higher education sector, which she has used so intelligently to guide us.”

OFM News/Lee Simmons