Durban - The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) hosted the inauguration of Dr Reuel Jethro Khoza on Wednesday at its Westville campus. He is the university’s fourth chancellor.
Khoza is an esteemed academic whose expertise is also recognised internationally.
He is the chairperson of Assupol Holdings and the Assupol Insurance company and chairman of Discovery Bank. He is also the president of the Institute of Directors in South Africa.
Khoza is said to be a man of many gifts and talents as he is also a musician and farmer among other things.
UKZN’s vice-chancellor and principal Professor Nana Poku said he was certain that Khoza was going to bring change and uplift the institution to higher levels.
He said the appointment of Khoza was the change that the institution needed. He highlighted that success was rather impossible without small adjustments being made.
“It is against this background of renewal and change that we eagerly embrace Dr Khoza as our chancellor. He embodies our aspirations and hope and through his considerable networks, the vital rejuvenation of our connectivity with the business community both near and far,” said Poku.
He said the institution needed to succeed for the betterment of the province and the appointment of Khoza could not have come at a better time. He said Khoza generously agreed to link his well-earned prestige to the institution.
Kwazulu-Natal Education MEC Kwazi Mshengu said Khoza was one of the leading intellectuals in the continent and that he was confident that under his reign more intellectuals were going to be produced, the ones who will strategise and bring solutions to the ground challenges that the country faces to create a better future.
“We want this institution to remain a sector for knowledge and it is no doubt that it will remain so,” said Mshengu.
Khoza said: “We live in a democracy in which academic excellence could thrive with the right dedication.” “We have a duty to ensure an efficient and effective administration and organisational support to enable academia to focus on academic pursuit.
“It behoves us to encourage and insist on application by academic staff and students towards world-class performance and delivery,” said Khoza, adding that he was determined to bring all this world-class change.
He said he wanted the institution to be at the same level as the institutions that were doing far better.
“The mere mention of UKZN should conjure up images of excellence akin to those of the Ivy League Universities in the USA. We should stop at nothing in realising this,” added Khoza.
UKZN’s student representative council (SRC) president, Malusi Zuma, said they welcomed Khoza with warm arms as the SRC and were hopeful that more good things were coming. He added that they were going to work together in ensuring that the image of this institution was protected.
“We believe the inauguration of Dr Khoza will reinforce the integrity of this institution thus making our qualifications hold weight, so that we leave the institution with pride,” said Zuma.
Daily News