Walter Sisulu

Walter Sisulu This is the official page of iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu.

Walter Sisulu University’s purpose is to address societal grand challenges and change people’s lives through Graduating versatile, work-ready individuals; Producing relevant, innovative and impactful research; Championing sustainable development and in particular, social justice.

π’π˜π”ππˆπ•π„π’πˆπ“π‡πˆ 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑 π’πˆπ’π”π‹π” πŒπ€πŠπ„π’ π†π‹πŽππ€π‹ π‘π€ππŠπˆππ†π’ 𝐃𝐄𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐍 πŒπ€π‰πŽπ‘ π”ππˆπ•π„π‘π’πˆπ“π˜ π‘π€ππŠπˆππ†π’!!!iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu (Walter...
03/10/2026

π’π˜π”ππˆπ•π„π’πˆπ“π‡πˆ 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑 π’πˆπ’π”π‹π” πŒπ€πŠπ„π’ π†π‹πŽππ€π‹ π‘π€ππŠπˆππ†π’ 𝐃𝐄𝐁𝐔𝐓 𝐈𝐍 πŒπ€π‰πŽπ‘ π”ππˆπ•π„π‘π’πˆπ“π˜ π‘π€ππŠπˆππ†π’!!!

iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu (Walter Sisulu) has made its debut in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, entering the 2027 global table in the 1 801–2 000 band at a significant moment in its institutional journey.

The milestone comes as the university launches its Vision 2040+ – Flourishing Futures, while Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Thandi Mgwebi presents her First 100 Days Report, outlining the institution’s direction and priorities for the years ahead.

The timing gives the global recognition added significance as Walter Sisulu begins a new chapter focused on strengthening its contribution through teaching, research, innovation, partnerships and its impact on society.

The university recorded an overall score of 20.4–24.1, with its performance assessed across five areas: Teaching, Research Environment, Research Quality, Industry and International Outlook.

Its highest individual score was recorded in International Outlook at 37.5, followed by Research Quality at 29.5, Industry at 26.5, Teaching at 14.1, and Research Environment at 13.0.

"There was no space at that time for African intellectuals to express themselves, to really have freedom to develop them...
02/10/2026

"There was no space at that time for African intellectuals to express themselves, to really have freedom to develop themselves to the fullest in South Africa... The Black universities, including Fort Hare, were captured and deliberately placed under the leadership of Afrikaners... So there was no space there to really express and feel that you can freely make your contribution as an ambitious and aspiring academic."

Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu giving his keynote address at the launch of the book titled University of Transkei.

"We must always remember this, that there are so many children that are looking at what we are doing, not so much what w...
02/10/2026

"We must always remember this, that there are so many children that are looking at what we are doing, not so much what we say, but they are watching at the way in which we are... and what they're trying to do... they're also trying to be like us."

Walter Sisulu Chairperson of Council, Professor Tembeka Ngcukaitobi speaking on the importance of ethical leadership.

"A lot of our stories of innovation, a lot of our stories of discovery, are lost in history, and we therefore become peo...
02/10/2026

"A lot of our stories of innovation, a lot of our stories of discovery, are lost in history, and we therefore become people with no history, because we don't write the story down."

- Professor Tembeka Ngcukaitobi at the launch of a book on historical accounts of the former University of Transkei, now iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu.

𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 π‚πŽππ’π”πŒπ„π‘π’ 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 π”ππˆπ•π„π‘π’πˆπ“πˆπ„π’, π’π€π˜π’ 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑 π’πˆπ’π”π‹π” ππ’πœ 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐓 ππˆπ–π€ π‚πŽππ…π„π‘π„ππ‚π„The financial pressures ...
02/10/2026

𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 π‚πŽππ’π”πŒπ„π‘π’ 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐘 π”ππˆπ•π„π‘π’πˆπ“πˆπ„π’, π’π€π˜π’ 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑 π’πˆπ’π”π‹π” ππ’πœ 𝐒𝐓𝐔𝐃𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐓 ππˆπ–π€ π‚πŽππ…π„π‘π„ππ‚π„

The financial pressures often preventing students from registering and completing their university studies could be addressed through a more preventative and sustainable approach to higher education finance, according to Walter Sisulu student Akhanya Mzazi.

Mzazi, a final-year BSc Applied Mathematics student at the Mthatha Campus, presented an innovative financial sustainability framework at the 3rd Business Incubation Web Association (BIWA) Conference, hosted by Walter Sisulu in kuGompo City.

Her research paper, titled β€œA Unified Ledger-Integrated Risk-Pooling Framework for Student Registration Continuity and Institutional Bad Debt Mitigation,” was presented under the theme β€œDigital Transformation, AI, FinTech & Digital Platforms.”

Mzazi, from Komani, said household financial shocks can have a profound impact on students’ ability to meet university registration requirements, potentially disrupting academic journeys despite students’ commitment to their studies.

Her proposed framework seeks to establish a financial mechanism that could help protect students against temporary financial shocks while simultaneously assisting universities to mitigate student-related bad debt.

Central to her argument is a shift in how universities view students within the higher education ecosystem.

β€œStudents are consumers, customers served by universities. To an extent, there is a sense of them getting taken advantage of. It is about time that a solution benefits not just the university, but the students as well,” she said.

Mzazi said the innovation is intended to move higher education finance away from crisis response towards prevention and protection.

β€œI hope my innovation shifts higher education finance from reacting after a crisis through loans, crowdfunding and written-off debt, to protecting students. Above all, I want it to prove that social impact and commercial viability can share one sustainable business, and that one bad year due to a particular factor does not have to end a degree,” she said.

She said the next phase of the research could involve collaboration with specialists in actuarial science, higher education and entrepreneurship to test and refine the framework and explore its applicability beyond South Africa.

For Mzazi, innovation begins with recognising real-world problems and developing practical responses to them.

She emphasised that sustainable innovation requires continuous learning, testing and refinement, acknowledging that ideas do not always succeed on their first attempt.

Her presentation at BIWA demonstrated how student-led research can contribute to conversations about financial sustainability, digital innovation and more inclusive approaches to higher education.

By Sisipho Qwenga

𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑 π’πˆπ’π”π‹π” π”ππ•π„πˆπ‹π’ π•πˆπ’πˆπŽπ πŸπŸŽπŸ’πŸŽ+ π’π“π‘π€π“π„π†π˜ π“πŽ πƒπ‘πˆπ•π„ π“π‘π€ππ’π…πŽπ‘πŒπ€π“πˆπŽπiYunivesithi Walter Sisulu is set to overhaul institu...
02/10/2026

𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑 π’πˆπ’π”π‹π” π”ππ•π„πˆπ‹π’ π•πˆπ’πˆπŽπ πŸπŸŽπŸ’πŸŽ+ π’π“π‘π€π“π„π†π˜ π“πŽ πƒπ‘πˆπ•π„ π“π‘π€ππ’π…πŽπ‘πŒπ€π“πˆπŽπ

iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu is set to overhaul institutional practices and sharpen its teaching, research, innovation and community engagement around three critical areas: Food Futures, One Health, and Justice, Governance and Leadership Futures as it charts a new developmental path under Vision 2040+.

Unveiling the long-term strategy at the strategic launch at Mthatha Campus, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Thandi Mgwebi said the strategy represents a deliberate reset, reaffirm and recommit, one that recognises the University’s history while challenging practices and institutional arrangements that may stand in the way of its future ambitions.

β€œThe reset could require intentional disruptions of some arrangements, of some practices and habits that may be inimical to the strategic focus that we seek,” she said.

At the heart of Vision 2040+ is a commitment to concentrate the University’s acuademic and societal contribution on challenges that directly affect communities. Food Futures places food and nutritional sovereignty at the centre of an interdisciplinary agenda spanning agriculture, technology, nutrition, culture and local knowledge, while One Health brings together human, animal and environmental health in responding to the realities facing rural communities, climate change and socioeconomic pressures.

The third pillar, Justice, Governance and Leadership Futures, places ethical leadership, accountable governance and capable institutions at the centre of transformation.

Mgwebi called for graduates who lead with integrity, think critically and respect evidence, while positioning the University as a space for meaningful public engagement and dialogue.

She said to her, the launch itself is not the measure of success. The real test begins with implementation.

Vision 2040+ positions iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu as a university of place, purpose and possibility rooted in the Eastern Cape while contributing knowledge and solutions to African and global challenges.

She said adulation and recognition are only earned at a point where will have something to show, not at the idea stage.

ππ†π‚π”πŠπ€πˆπ“πŽππˆ 𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒, ππ”π€π‹πˆπ“π˜ 𝐀𝐍𝐃 π„π“π‡πˆπ‚π€π‹ π‹π„π€πƒπ„π‘π’π‡πˆπ 𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐄 πŽπ… π’π˜π”ππˆπ•π„π’πˆπ“π‡πˆ 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑 π’πˆπ’π”π‹π”β€™π’ π†π‘πŽπ–π“π‡iYunivesithi Wal...
02/10/2026

ππ†π‚π”πŠπ€πˆπ“πŽππˆ 𝐏𝐔𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒, ππ”π€π‹πˆπ“π˜ 𝐀𝐍𝐃 π„π“π‡πˆπ‚π€π‹ π‹π„π€πƒπ„π‘π’π‡πˆπ 𝐀𝐓 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐄 πŽπ… π’π˜π”ππˆπ•π„π’πˆπ“π‡πˆ 𝐖𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐄𝐑 π’πˆπ’π”π‹π”β€™π’ π†π‘πŽπ–π“π‡

iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu Chair of Council, Professor Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, has called for the University to expand access to higher education while strengthening academic quality and ensuring that limited institutional resources are used responsibly to advance the University’s mandate.

Delivering the keynote address at the Vision 2040+ Strategy Launch, Ngcukaitobi said the University’s growth must remain firmly connected to the communities it was established to serve.

β€œWe are building a university for everyone, widening access must go hand in hand with academic excellence," he said.

As iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu seeks to strengthen its academic and research profile, he said quality teaching, scholarship and postgraduate education must remain central to its trajectory.

β€œOur responsibility is to create access for students who would otherwise not have an opportunity to enter university, that is why we need to raise the quality of the University to world standards," said Ngcukaitobi.

He also placed ethical leadership, accountability and responsible financial stewardship at the heart of institutional growth. With resources remaining limited, he called for careful management of institutional finances and decisions that advance the University as a whole.

β€œOur resources are limited. We must find ways of using them for the betterment of the institution,” he said.

He further emphasised that effective leadership requires more than technical expertise, highlighting the importance of commitment, passion and accountability to the institution and its broader purpose.

π„ππ“π‘π„ππ‘π„ππ„π”π‘πˆπ€π‹ π‚π€ππ€ππˆπ‹πˆπ“π˜ πƒπ‘πˆπ•π„π’ π’π”π’π“π€πˆππ€ππ‹π„ 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐏 π†π‘πŽπ–π“π‡The development of entrepreneurial capabilities is essential...
02/10/2026

π„ππ“π‘π„ππ‘π„ππ„π”π‘πˆπ€π‹ π‚π€ππ€ππˆπ‹πˆπ“π˜ πƒπ‘πˆπ•π„π’ π’π”π’π“π€πˆππ€ππ‹π„ 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐏 π†π‘πŽπ–π“π‡

The development of entrepreneurial capabilities is essential to helping South African startups navigate financial, regulatory, and operational challenges and build sustainable businesses.

This was highlighted during Day 2 of the Business Incubation Web Association (BIWA) Conference, held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) on 1 October 2026.

Walter Sisulu student and founder of Aurelia-Health, Boitumelo Nkosi, presented research examining the role of entrepreneurial capability development in sustainable startup growth and its implications for South Africa’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

The study explores how strengthening entrepreneurial competencies, including financial management, strategic planning, market adaptability, and regulatory knowledge, can help emerging businesses respond to challenges and improve their prospects for long-term sustainability.

For Nkosi, the research is informed by his personal experience as a startup founder and his concern about the challenges faced by emerging businesses in South Africa.

β€œHonestly, the inspiration comes from a place of deep personal anxiety as a startup founder.
When you look at the grim failure statistics for startups in South Africa, it is genuinely alarming,” he said, reflecting on the uncertainty associated with establishing and growing a business in a challenging economic environment.

The study has two key objectives: to identify ways of reducing the risk of business failure for his own enterprise and to contribute towards helping other aspiring entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge and skills required to establish sustainable businesses.

Nkosi noted that while access to funding remains important, financial support alone does not necessarily guarantee business sustainability.

Entrepreneurs must also understand how to manage cash flow, plan strategically, respond to changing markets and navigate regulatory requirements.

He further highlighted the gap that can exist between technical expertise and business capability.

Innovators, particularly those working in technology and intellectual property, may possess strong technical skills but lack the commercial and financial knowledge required to transform innovative ideas into viable enterprises.
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The research also considers how universities, government, incubators and other stakeholders can strengthen the support available to emerging entrepreneurs.

Nkosi suggested that university technology transfer offices and academic programmes should complement research and innovation support with opportunities for students and researchers to develop commercial and financial capabilities.

Drawing from his own experience as a health technology entrepreneur, Nkosi encouraged young founders to begin developing their ideas rather than waiting for external funding.
β€œMy advice to young founders is to stop waiting for a golden ticket of funding to start,” he said.

By Asenathi Danayi.

VISION 2040+ – FLOURISHING FUTURESA defining moment is unfolding today at Walter Sisulu, Mthatha Campus, as iYunivesithi...
02/10/2026

VISION 2040+ – FLOURISHING FUTURES

A defining moment is unfolding today at Walter Sisulu, Mthatha Campus, as iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu officially launches Vision 2040+ – Flourishing Futures, alongside the presentation of Vice-Chancellor, Prof Thandi Mgwebi’s First 100 Days Report.

Vision 2040+ sets out Walter Sisulu’s long-term strategic direction and aspirations for the decades ahead, charting a future anchored in transformation.

The occasion also provides an opportunity for Prof Mgwebi to reflect on her first 100 days at the helm, sharing key milestones, institutional priorities and the foundations being laid for the next chapter of Walter Sisulu.






02/10/2026

LAUNCH OF
β€’ Vision 2040+ : FlourishingFutures
β€’ VC First 100DaysReport

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