The University of Fort Hare in South Africa’s Eastern Cape has appointed Professor Wezile Chitha as its new vice-chancellor and principal, TimesLIVE reported on 22 October. According to the report by Gugulethu Mashinini, the university’s council approved the appointment unanimously at a special meeting on 16 October. Professor Chitha is expected to take up the post in the first quarter of 2027.
Who Is the New Vice-Chancellor
TimesLIVE describes Professor Chitha as a medical doctor and health economist who is currently executive dean of the faculty of medicine and health sciences at Walter Sisulu University. He holds a master’s degree in public health specialising in health economics from the University of Cape Town and a doctorate in public health from Walter Sisulu University, and is an associate professor of health systems and policy.
Earlier in his career, the report says, he was acting assistant dean for strategic affairs at the University of the Witwatersrand and founding director of the Albertina Sisulu Centre for Global Health and Research. He has also been elected president of the Health Professions Council of South Africa for the 2025 to 2030 term.
How the Choice Was Made
TimesLIVE reports that shortlisted candidates presented their visions for the university towards 2040 on 15 October, before a joint sitting of the council, senate and institutional forum, with representatives of the student representative council, alumni and organised labour also attending. Formal interviews followed the next day. TimesLIVE reports that Professor Chitha was the highest-ranked candidate in both the senate and institutional forum assessments, which it describes as an important consideration in the council’s final decision.
The council described the appointment as marking “an important milestone in the University’s continuing journey”. Its chairperson, Siyanda Makaula, said: “We look forward to working with him in strengthening institutional stability.” TimesLIVE adds that the university had earlier dismissed its previous vice-chancellor after a disciplinary process, and that it is now developing a long-term strategic framework guided by a 2040 vision.
Why It Matters
A vice-chancellor sets the tone for an entire university, and the choice at Fort Hare comes at a time when the council itself has spoken about the need for stability. The process described by TimesLIVE gave weight to the views of the senate and the institutional forum, and brought students, alumni and labour representatives into the room, which are the kinds of consultation that can help a new leader start with wider support. The appointment is not yet in effect, since the start date is some months away, and the report does not set out the specific measures Professor Chitha intends to take. What can be said is that the council has chosen a candidate with a background in public health and in university faculty management, and that his early priorities will be watched closely by staff, students and the wider Eastern Cape community.
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