Opening Plenary
South African Perspectives on Community Engagement
Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 1:45-3:00 p.m.
Engaged Scholars from South African universities have made considerable contributions to the development of the field of Community Engagement (CE). Notwithstanding these developments, CE in South Africa has struggled to shed its image as an unfunded mandate. A panel of Vice-Chancellors (or their designated representatives) provide perspectives on the sustainability of the CE initiatives that their universities undertake, and the impact of these initiatives on South African society at large.
Professor Robert John Balfour (Rector and Vice-Chancellor of University of the Western Cape) completed his doctoral degree in English language acquisition in Applied Linguistics in Education in Cambridge in 2000, before moving to English Studies at UKZN where he taught in Postcolonial Literature, and in Education as a specialist in language policy and planning for higher education. He has published on postcolonial identities, multilingualism and inclusion in South Africa and beyond. Previously Registrar at St Augustine College of South Africa from 2008-2010, Robert was appointed as Professor and Dean of the Faculty of Education Sciences at NWU in 2011, before being appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) in 2017, also at North-West University (NWU). He assumed Office as the 8th Rector and Vice Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in 2025. He is a painter, writer of poetry, and continues to publish widely. Professor Balfour has been an NRF rated academic since 2010.
Professor Sizwe Mabizela (Vice-Chancellor of Rhodes University) assumed the role of Vice-Chancellor in November 2014, following his tenure as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic & Student Affairs from 2008 to 2014. Prior to that, he served as the Head of the Department of Mathematics (Pure & Applied) from 2004 to 2008. Mabizela's research interests lie in Approximation Theory and Applied Functional Analysis. He earned his PhD in Mathematics from Pennsylvania State University in 1991. Between 1992 and 2003, Mabizela served as an academic in the Department of Pure & Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town, where he progressed through the academic ranks to become an Associate Professor and Deputy Head of Department. In 2004, he was appointed to a Chair in Mathematics at Rhodes University. For several years, Mabizela served as a member of the South African Mathematics Olympiad Committee. In July 2014, he chaired the 55th International Mathematics Olympiad, hosted at the University of Cape Town – an historic occasion marking the first time this prestigious global competition was held on African soil. Mabizela currently serves on several boards, including the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) Board, the Funda Wande Board, the Thuthuka Education Upliftment Fund Board, and Universities South Africa (USAf).
For the immediate past five years, Dr Phethiwe Matutu (CEO of Universities of South Africa USAf) was the Group Executive: Strategy, Planning and Partnerships at the National Research Foundation (NRF) where she has overseen the successful creation of the Strategy, Planning and Partnerships Division. Some of her successes at the NRF include driving the formulation of the organisational strategy, the NRF Vision 2030. She also led the conceptualisation of a Research and Development Information Platform for R&D data for the National System of Innovation. At the former Department of Science and Technology, Dr Matutu’s was a Chief director: Human Capital and Science Promotion. She successfully led the development of strategic documents in research priority areas of Government, science promotion, and human capacity development leading to transformative change and maximising research impact. A mathematician by discipline, who obtained her PhD in Mathematics at the University of Cape Town (UCT), Dr Matutu’s career was launched in academia, where she focused her teaching on making Mathematics accessible, particularly to the previously marginalised groups. She taught at a number of institutions including UCT, University of Stellenbosch, and Rhodes University, where she was a senior lecturer. The underlying intent of her experience and activities have been to advance the transformation agenda and impact within the higher education sector.
Professor Mosa Moshabela (Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Cape Town) is an esteemed academic and clinician scientist and member of the Academy of Science of South Africa (MASSAf). He was awarded the PHILA Annual Award (2022) by the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) for his contribution to Public Health in South Africa, and a Ministerial Special Covid-19 Award (2020 - 2021) for Covid-19 Science Communication and Public Engagement. Prof Moshabela is the Chairperson of the Governing Board at the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Health Commissioner to the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal. Primarily, Prof Moshabela’s contribution to health research has been in the improvement of access and quality in healthcare to combat infectious diseases, particularly in relation to HIV and TB, and in the areas of health systems, services and policy research. Prof Moshabela’s research is focused on implementation science of health innovations, which cuts across multiple disciplines, and involves the design, implementation and evaluation of complex interventions in healthcare services and programs, and seeks to improve access, quality, equity and impact in healthcare, for resource-poor settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
Professor Sibongile Muthwa (Vice-Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University) holds a PhD from SOAS, University of London. Her other academic qualifications include an MSc in Development Policy and Planning (LSE), BA (SW) Honours (Wits), BA in Social Work (Fort Hare). She is the Vice-Chancellor of Nelson Mandela University, South Africa, and former Chairperson of Universities South Africa (USAf). She has a distinguished career both in South Africa and internationally, working in both development and public sector institutions and academia. Between 2010 and 2017, she was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Institutional Support at Nelson Mandela University. Before joining Mandela University, she served as Director-General of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government (2004 and 2010) South Africa, and the Director of the University of Fort Hare Institute of Government. Sibongile is deeply committed to gender justice, social inclusion, and active democratic participation. Accordingly, she serves on several Boards and advisory structures and publishes scholarly work in these thematic areas.
Professor Nokuthula Sibiya (Vice-Chancellor & Principal of Mangosuthu University of Technology) is the first Umlazi-born female Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT). Professor Sibiya’s academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Nursing, Honours in Nursing, Master of Technology in Nursing and Doctor of Technology in Nursing. She is a C2-rated scientist with the National Research Foundation (NRF). For recognition for excellent contribution in primary health care, in 2015, she was inaugurated as the Fellow of the Academy of Nursing of South Africa. Prof Sibiya was awarded by the Department of Science and Technology as the 2018 South African Distinguished Woman Scientist in Humanities and Social Sciences. She has also received several research awards, which include Top Female Researcher of the Year, Top Researcher in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Her research area is primary health care with specific focus on maternal and child health.