A VISIONARY LEADER WITH A BIG HEART

Black women have been underrepresented in leadership roles in higher education for many years.

There are at least 15% of female ViceChancellors in South Africa, and only 12 of the 30 Deputy Vice Chancellors are women, according to a national report. This highlights the gender inequality that is still present in South African academia and the lack of opportunities for women to rise to the echelons of higher education.

Black women have been underrepresented in leadership roles in higher education for many years. There is, however, a slow but steady change taking place. Women are increasingly being appointed to senior leadership roles with more and more universities appointing female vicechancellors and deputy vice-chancellors. This is a positive sign of progress in the higher education sector in South Africa. But a lot still needs to be done.

The task of transforming universities is a critical one for higher education administrators throughout South Africa, that includes Dr. Vathiswa Papu Zamxaka who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Tshwane University of Technology at the helm of research for technology . This transformation requires the implementation of digital technologies, the redesign of curriculums, and the introduction of new methods of teaching, all of which can be difficult to achieve in a short amount of time.

Dr Papu Zamxaka was born and raised in Njwaxa, a village a few kilometres from Alice. She says, children in Njwaxa village are raised by the community. Therefore, every adult is responsible for teaching the children the values and traditions of the community.

The collective nurturing that creates a tight-knit network of support for the children of Njwaxa and helps them to grow up with a sense of belonging and purpose that still exists to this day. As a result, Dr Papu Zamxaka’s achievement and academic excellence are not just her own, but also that of the entire village.

Many people see Dr. Papu Zamxaka as a successful academic leader and the pastor’s wife who lives a high life. However, what most people don’t know is Dr. Papu Zamxaka’s life wasn’t always rosy. She had to overcome many hardships and struggles in her life to get to where she is today. She serves as an inspiration to many young people, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds.

Her fondest memories are of fetching water from the river in the dusty and quaint village of Njwaxa in the Eastern Cape, where she lived with her grandmother.

No one understands what it is like to grow up without two loving parents more than Dr. Papu Zamxaka. Since she was born out-ofwedlock, she had to endure the pain of being raised by her grandmother, while her siblings lived with their mother. This has caused her a great deal of emotional and psychological turmoil, as she had to grapple with feelings of rejection and abandonment, as well as the lack of a stable and ever-present parental figure in her life.

Due to this, Dr. Papu Zamxaka strives to be a great mother to her two beautiful daughters and to make a difference in the lives of young people who have been through similar experiences. She has achieved incredible success both in her academic career and in her professional life, proving that it is possible to overcome adversity and reach great heights.

A turning point in her life was when she made education her key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Her academic qualifications and professional accolades are impressive. Following completing her Bachelor of Science (Hons) at the University of Cape Town on a Canon Collins scholarship in 2003, she pursued further studies in Sweden and the UK, as well as undertaking and managing numerous important medical research projects in South Africa related to pollution, water, and hygiene.

According to Dr. Papu Zamxaka, studying in Sweden differs from studying in South Africa because Swedish universities have an open climate with a strong focus on group work. The Swedish education system focuses more on your academic interests than pushing you to achieve a grade.

“In Sweden, you attend classes this week and receive theory from Monday through Friday. You will then not be required to attend class the following week but instead will be required to apply the theory that you learned the previous week. You must implement it on your own,” Dr. Papu Zamxaka told TransformSA.

“During the third week, each one of you has to present what you have done in the previous week. All through, you are studying that way, and there is no gap between theory and practicality,” she added.

The value of higher education lies in its ability to empower individuals and transform communities and societies through the breaking down of barriers created by poverty and inequality. By providing access to knowledge and resources, higher education affords individuals like Dr. Papu Zamxaka the opportunity to reach their full potential.

She believes that transformation in South African Universities has to reflect in all aspects of the institution such as governance, management and leadership, student environments such as reasonable access and academic success, equity in staffing, institutional cultures, and progressive and inclusive teaching and learning.

The percentage of academic staff that are black African has steadily increased from 2005 to 2015 and now represents 35 percent of all academics as opposed to 26 percent in 2005. This increase is due to several initiatives such as affirmative action and greater access to tertiary education. More black African students are graduating with higher qualifications, which in turn has led to an increase in the number of black African academics.

When Dr. Papu Zamxaka shared her views on women’s empowerment, she became extremely passionate about promoting women in science, technology, and leadership in South Africa.

“Start by changing the mindset of women. Stop feeling sorry for ourselves. Let’s not elevate the negative narrative that’s already out there. Demonstrate to yourself and others that you possess the necessary skills. Take the bull by the horns. As a woman, you possess a number of strengths, one of which is the ability to multitask,” she said.

South Africa is currently facing a challenge related to quality leadership. Poor leadership has caused a lack of trust between citizens and the government. This has led to a decrease in economic growth, inequality, and unemployment. The country needs strong leaders who can bring about positive change.

“We need to discuss both soft and hard skills. The role of a leader is to carry everyone along, to take everyone along with them. It is only possible to do this if you possess softer skills. The process begins with you gelling with the company from the outset. You will receive a buy-in if you sell the vision right. “Keep in mind that not everyone will support your vision,” she advised.

Dr. Papu Zamxaka unwinds by helping others through her nonprofit organisation Esther Naledzi. She also finds comfort in attending church and praying. It helps her to clear her mind and focus on what matters. Dressing up and wearing her selection of stylish garments are also among her favourite activities.

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