Dr Judy Dlamini has been elected chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand, getting the nod following a tight contest for the top job.
Dlamini, who was born in Durban, is the first black female chancellor to be appointed by the university and will take up the position from December 1.
She takes the reins from retired Justice Dikgang Moseneke, who has served for two six-year terms in the position.
Dr Anele Mngadi, the other nominee for the position, congratulated Dlamini.
“I wish to congratulate Dr Judy Dlamini on being elected chancellor of the University of Witwatersrand and wish her the best in shaping the university to achieve its full potential as a knowledge and innova- tion-based institution,” Mngadi said.
A medical doctor by training and a leading businesswoman, entrepreneur, author and philanthropist, Dlamini went head to head with Mngadi, a university professor, non-executive chairman and community builder, for the chancellor's position after calls for nominations to fill the vacancy were made in April.