The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training has formally noted and welcomed the appointment of Professor Wezile Chitha as the next vice‑chancellor of the University of Fort Hare, who will take up the post on 1 January 2027, according to a statement distributed by APO Group on behalf of Parliament.
Parliament urges unity to improve student outcomes
The committee’s chairperson, Mr Tebogo Letsie, said the appointment is expected to contribute to institutional stability and better governance. The committee called on the university’s senior management, student leadership and other stakeholders to collaborate with the incoming vice‑chancellor to enhance students’ academic experiences and day‑to‑day lives.
“We welcome the appointment and hope it will strengthen stability and good governance at the institution. We call on the university’s senior management, students and other stakeholders to work together to improve students’ lives and their academic journeys,”
The committee extended its best wishes to Prof Chitha and appealed for cooperation from the university community to support his tenure. The statement places emphasis on the need for collective action to tackle challenges that have affected the institution.
Background and academic profile
Professor Chitha joins Fort Hare from Walter Sisulu University, where he served as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. His qualifications listed in the parliamentary notice include a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), a Master’s in Public Health specialising in Health Economics from the University of Cape Town, and a PhD in Public Health from Walter Sisulu University. The statement notes he will assume his duties at Fort Hare at the start of 2027.
The notice also confirms Prof Chitha succeeds Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, who resigned from the vice‑chancellor post earlier this year. The committee’s response suggests an expectation that new leadership will address governance and stability concerns that have affected the institution.
Why the appointment matters
The University of Fort Hare is one of South Africa’s historic universities and has faced governance and operational pressures in recent years that have affected service delivery and the student experience. Parliamentary acknowledgement of the appointment signals national oversight and interest in ensuring the transition contributes to institutional recovery.
- Start date: 1 January 2027
- Incoming vice‑chancellor: Prof Wezile Chitha
- Previous position: Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Walter Sisulu University
| Qualification | Institution |
|---|---|
| MBChB | — |
| Master’s in Public Health (Health Economics) | University of Cape Town |
| PhD in Public Health | Walter Sisulu University |
The committee’s statement does not elaborate on Prof Chitha’s strategic priorities for Fort Hare. It does, however, reiterate a familiar parliamentary theme: new leadership should be accompanied by supportive governance from management, council, staff and student bodies to restore confidence and improve institutional performance.
As the appointment takes effect at the start of next year, attention will turn to the transitional arrangements Fort Hare puts in place and to how the new vice‑chancellor engages with both internal stakeholders and national oversight structures to tackle outstanding challenges.
The parliamentary notice and the quote from the Portfolio Committee chair were distributed by APO Group on behalf of the Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
