By Sindisiwe Tshona
In a ceremony brimming with a sense of homecoming and historic transition, Rhodes University celebrated the installation of Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga as its eighth Chancellor, succeeding Justice Lex Mpati.
The 2025 Spring Graduation ceremony was described by Vice-Chancellor Professor Sizwe Mabizela as a “tremendous day” and a “fresh beginning” for the institution. He highlighted the significance of appointing an alumnus and a son of the Eastern Cape, saying, “We could not have selected a better person… He will build on a very strong foundation but will also chart his own course.”
For Justice Madlanga, the appointment was deeply personal. “It’s both humbling and heartwarming, especially because this is my alma mater,” he said in an interview with Grocott’s Mail. “So in a sense, it is a homecoming for me.” He follows in the footsteps of a man he affectionately calls “Bhuti Lex”.
In his inaugural address, “Rhodes University: Where Leaders Learn,” the new Chancellor outlined a vision of servant leadership, strategic guidance, and a steadfast commitment to accessibility. He pledged to be a champion for the disadvantaged, emphasising that “one would not like to see talented students being denied access to education purely because of their circumstances.”
He pointed to the resilience of the university community in the face of Makhanda’s water crisis as a real-world example of leadership, where intellect and empathy combine to transform adversity into innovation. “When graduates leave Rhodes and Makhanda, they carry with them more than a degree,” he said, “They carry the lessons of resilience learned in seasons of trial… and a moral compass shaped by community.”
Looking ahead, Justice Madlanga committed to a Rhodes University that is a “model of what a deeply rooted, forward-looking African university can be.” His strategic priorities include strengthening excellence with equity, deepening research impact on societal challenges like youth unemployment and climate change, and nurturing a culture of entrepreneurial thinking.
