Limpopo ANC, EFF ecstatic over Dlamini-Zuma’s chancellor appointment

Jubilation filled the air in Limpopo at the weekend following the appointment of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as new chancellor for the University of Limpopo’s Turfloop campus.

The appointment of Dlamini-Zuma, who held the Cabinet post of planning, monitoring and evaluation until last month, has led to some people preempting her as the possible fit for the deputy president position set to be announced this week by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Among those excited is the Limpopo ANC, which was quick to congratulate the former African Union (AU) Commission chair.

ANC provincial secretary Soviet Lekganyane said yesterday: “The ANC in Limpopo has received with much appreciation the appointment of Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma as chancellor of the University of Limpopo. We believe the appointment is perfectly befitting to her as a cadre who has been tried and tested in the revolutionary fires of our movement over many decades.”

He said Dlamini-Zuma served South Africans with dedication and distinction in various capacities including being a long-serving ANC national executive committee member.

“Being a minister in various portfolios and ultimately as chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dlamini-Zuma is a South African woman with impeccable credentials,” Lekganyane said.

“She is now charged with the responsibility of championing the course of transformation in an institution which has itself contributed immensely in the production of revolutionary intellectuals such as Abraham Tiro, Collins Chabane, Mike Koyana, George and Joyce Mashamba, Frank Chikane, Gesler Nkondo, Martin Mahosi, Louis Mnguni, Thami Rubusana, David Makhura and many more.

“The ANC in Limpopo is confident that her presence at this university will assist in ensuring quality knowledge production, academic excellence, improvement of student welfare and enhancement of progressive curriculum development,” he added.

The EFF was equally ecstatic. “Limpopo is lucky to have such an academic, a freedom fighter and a continentally respected icon such as Dlamini-Zuma to lead one of the province’s universities,” said Dipepenene Madia of the EFF in Lephepane.

“Through her as the face of the university, female students would not only achieve glittering results at the end of their courses but would also be motivated to take high-paying and challenging jobs in the country that were previously known to be men only jobs.”

– news@citizen.co.za

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.