Loyiso Nongxa Appointed New Vice-Chancellor

Johannesburg, May, 2003 — The University of the Witwatersrand has appointed Professor Loyiso Nongxa as its vice-chancellor and principal with effect from 16 May.

Born in Indwe, near Queenstown, Loyiso Nongxa is the youngest of five children. His father was a teacher who became a principal and his mother a qualified teacher who remained in the home to raise their children. As a natural scholar Nongxa excelled in his studies throughout his education. He matriculated from Healdtown College where he achieved distinction as the top matric student in South Africa in 1972. He then proceeded to study for a BSc degree at Fort Hare, BSc (Hons) 1976, MSc 1978. His contemporaries at university include many of South Africa's political and business leaders. He holds a D.Phil from the University of Oxford 1982. In 1978, Loyiso Nongxa became South Africa's first African Rhodes Scholar.

He is a mathematician who has lectured at the University of Fort Hare, the National University of Lesotho, University of Natal and the University of the Western Cape - where he held the post of Professor in Mathematics and later, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

In October 2000, Nongxa took up the position as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of the Witwatersrand. In April 2002 he was appointed Vice-Principal and in November 2002 he became Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal. In May 2003 Nongxa was appointed as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal on a ten contract.

Nongxa serves on the Rhodes Scholarship Selection Committee, the SAUVCA Research Committee and various National Research Foundation committees. His expertise and interest include Universal Algebra, the teaching of mathematics at tertiary level and research evaluation.

He is an avid sports fan who in his younger days played rugby for the "Baa-bas" team at Fort Hare and represented his school in athletics. He is married and a father of three children.

# # #