Dr Thandi Mgwebi Appointed Vice-Chancellor of Walter Sisulu University

The National Research Foundation (NRF) congratulates Dr Thandi Mgwebi, Group Executive for Business Advancement and Global Partnerships, on her appointment as Vice-Chancellor of Walter Sisulu University (WSU). She will take up her new position from 01 January 2026.

Dr Mgwebi has maintained a long association with the NRF, serving in several senior management positions, including Director of Human Capital Development. She also led partnerships with institutions such as Fulbright, the British Council, and the Newton Fund.

Her previous senior executive roles include serving as a Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Internationalisation at both Nelson Mandela University and  the Tshwane University of Technology.

She holds a PhD in cell and developmental biology from the University of Cape Town, where she also completed postdoctoral research in virology.  She also completed an educational management degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia.

Her illustrious career spans over 20 years as an internationally recognised leader in higher education, including more than ten years’ experience in research, innovation, and internationalisation.

Dr Mgwebi’s strengths lie in strategic and inspirational leadership, strengthening partnerships, and resource mobilisation. This includes developing systems and strategies that involve management and mentoring multicultural teams, as well as establishing and guiding multi-sectoral partnerships and networks. 

Her contributions extend beyond her current role with the NRF. Dr Mgwebi continues to serve on several national-level committees and boards where co-operation and people-centred skills are required to translate strategic insight and high-level foresight into operational planning.  These include her current involvement as a council member of the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences and an appointment by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) to lead the review of Doctoral studies in South Africa. During 2023, she was appointed as an Advisory member of the Carnegie Diaspora Fellowship Programme.

Adding his voice to the well-wishes already received from a number of stakeholders within the National System of Innovation, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo, NRF CEO, said, “We are immensely proud of Dr Mgwebi as she returns to her alma mater, WSU, where her academic journey first began when it was still known as the University of Transkei. We wish her the very best in this new role and look forward to deepening our partnership with WSU under her leadership.”