UNISA Was Turned Around by LenkaBula – She Endured Patriarchal Violence

UNISA Was Turned Around by LenkaBula – She Endured Patriarchal Violence. In the ever-evolving landscape of South African higher education, the story of Professor Puleng LenkaBula shines as a beacon of resilience, transformation, and black female excellence.

Her leadership at the University of South Africa (UNISA) not only ushered in a new era for one of Africa’s oldest and most significant distance learning institutions, but also confronted and overcame the persistent scourge of patriarchal violence entrenched in academia and society at large.

The journey of Professor LenkaBula is one that resonates deeply with many Black women in South Africa, particularly those navigating the often-hostile terrain of academia. Patriarchal violence manifesting in the undermining, discrediting, and abuse of capable women—has long been a structural challenge in academic institutions. LenkaBula’s experience is a vivid reflection of this reality.

From the onset of her candidacy as Vice-Chancellor at UNISA in 2020, she was met with intense resistance, much of it politically charged and rooted in misogyny and racial bias.

Prominent political figures, such as UDM leader Bantu Holomisa, made public attempts to question her qualifications and suggested political interference in her appointment, even labelling her a “lapdog” of the Higher Education Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande. These baseless accusations, amplified by segments of the media, sought to derail her before she even stepped into office.

A highly respected ethicist and academic, Professor LenkaBula brought with her a wealth of experience. Prior to joining UNISA, she served as Vice-Rector for Institutional Change, Student Affairs and Community Engagement at the University of the Free State, and earlier as Dean of Students at Wits University.

Her credentials are not only locally recognised but also celebrated on international platforms. She serves on numerous academic and ecumenical boards, underscoring her commitment to intellectual rigor and ethical leadership. Simply put, LenkaBula was and remains exceptionally qualified to lead a major institution like UNISA.

One of the most remarkable transformations under Professor LenkaBula’s leadership has been the significant rise in UNISA’s research output. According to the latest Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) report, UNISA now ranks sixth among South African universities for research output in DHET-accredited journals, with an impressive 1,807 publications in the 2023 reporting year.

This leap forward places UNISA ahead of over 20 other institutions, trailing only the University of Johannesburg, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch University, and Wits University. This growth is particularly significant considering that UNISA has historically lagged behind in research output, despite being the largest university on the continent.

The boost in academic performance, both in terms of quantity and quality, is a testament to LenkaBula’s strategic vision and institutional reforms. Her administration has prioritised knowledge production, stakeholder partnerships, and international collaboration, firmly positioning UNISA as a competitive player in global academia.

Despite these achievements, Professor LenkaBula’s tenure has been marred by persistent scrutiny much of it unfair and deeply gendered. In 2022, a media storm erupted around the cost of renovations to the Vice Chancellor’s residence, pegged at just over R2 million.

Although the UNISA Council had approved the renovations, and the Vice Chancellor had no direct involvement in operational expenditures, the media framed her as wasteful and unethical.

What was deliberately omitted from most reports was that it was LenkaBula herself who raised concerns about the overspending and requested a halt to all procurement until a thorough review was conducted. Such facts were ignored, reinforcing the narrative of the “incompetent woman leader.”

In South Africa, where Black women in leadership are often targeted more aggressively than their male counterparts, these misrepresentations are not isolated. They are part of a larger pattern where media and institutional powers collude to undermine transformational leadership that challenges the status quo.

In 2023, further political pressure mounted when Minister Nzimande attempted to place UNISA under administration based on an independent assessor’s report. The University challenged the decision in court, and the Pretoria High Court reversed the minister’s move.

Despite public perception being shaped by headlines that painted UNISA as “dysfunctional,” university performance data tells a different story. Not only has it improved research rankings, but it has also expanded partnerships across the public and private sectors, locally and internationally. These are markers of a thriving institution, not a failing one.

The story of Professor LenkaBula is symbolic of the broader struggle Black women face in leadership positions—not just in academia, but across sectors. Her story embodies perseverance in the face of patriarchal structures designed to exclude and delegitimise. And yet, she has prevailed.

Thanks to her leadership, UNISA is no longer the passive, underperforming institution it was once perceived to be. It is now a pillar of academic excellence, a champion of knowledge production, and a space for intellectual growth in the Global South.

Her leadership serves as a powerful counter-narrative to the idea that transformation and excellence are mutually exclusive. Professor LenkaBula has shown that transformational leadership, rooted in ethics, equity and inclusivity, can drive meaningful and measurable change.

In a society still marred by gender-based and patriarchal violence, Professor Puleng LenkaBula’s tenure at UNISA is a powerful reminder of what is possible when visionary Black women are given the platform to lead. Her story is not only a personal victory, but a collective win for all who believe in justice, transformation, and academic excellence in South Africa.