Events
UJ CONVOCATION CHARTS A NEW COURSE AT AGM
(From the left to the right) Mr Tumelo Nyoyi – Member of the Executive Committee of Convocation, Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi, Dr Sibusiso Bakana – Member of Council & President of the Executive Committee of Convocation, Prof Bettine van Vuuren – Registrar and Mrs Phaladi Magongoa – Senior Manager: Alumni Office
UJ’s Convocation Annual General Meeting, held on 1 December 2025, marked more than a routine gathering of alumni. It signalled a moment of reflection, recalibration and renewed ambition for a body seeking to redefine its role within a university celebrating two decades of existence. Convened virtually, the AGM brought together alumni, university leadership and members of Convocation’s newly elected executive committee for the 2025-2028 term, running from 13 October 2025 to 12 October 2028. At its core, the meeting reflected an organisation intent on sharpening its purpose and strengthening its place in the institutional ecosystem. Opening the proceedings, Registrar, Prof Bettine van Vuuren, welcomed attendees and acknowledged the extensive input from alumni in refining Convocation’s constitutional framework. Approved earlier in the year, the constitution now anchors the structure’s governance, representation and mandate within the university. At the centre of the evening was the formal introduction and inaugural address of Convocation president, Dr Sibusiso Reuben Bakana, whose election signals a new leadership chapter. A senior researcher in artificial intelligence and computer vision, Dr Bakana holds a PhD from the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, China, and has experience in academia, the energy sector and technology policy. In his address, Dr Bakana framed the moment as both reflective and forward-looking. He noted that alumni had yet to fully claim their place in that story as the University marks 20 years since its formation through the merger of Rand Afrikaans University, Technikon Witwatersrand and the Soweto and East Rand campuses of Vista University. “This is a moment not only for celebration, but for honest reflection,” he said, urging Convocation to assess both its achievements and its limitations. Central to that reflection is the role Convocation plays within the broader alumni landscape. Constitutionally mandated as a statutory body accountable to Council, Convocation represents graduates, promotes the interests of the University, and elects representatives to its highest decision-
Dr Sibusiso Bakana, Member of Council & President of the Executive Committee of Convocation and Prof Bettine van Vuuren, Registrar
making structures. Its work unfolds alongside an extensive network of alumni chapters and affinity groups. The AGM also formally introduced the new Convocation Executive Committee. Alongside Dr Bakana, the leadership includes deputy president, Mr Werner Duvenhage, managing director at Rio Tinto Iron and Titanium Africa Operations; Puleng Moloi, a Council member and engineering technologist at Transnet Freight Rail; Ms Nomaxabiso Tata, a communications and governance specialist serving as an Exco member; and Tumelo Nyoyi, acting Head of Department in the Commerce Department within the education sector. Their election signals a blend of professional expertise across industries, reinforcing Convocation’s positioning as a body capable of drawing on diverse alumni experience in service of the University. The meeting also paid tribute to those who have shaped Convocation over the past two decades, acknowledging former presidents and executive members whose contributions, often behind the scenes, helped build the structure into what it is today. In a moment of reflection, the AGM honoured members of the university community who had passed on, including the late Chairperson of Council, Xoliswa Kakana, whose death in October 2025 marked a significant loss for the institution. Beyond leadership transitions, the AGM engaged with substantive issues faced by both Convocation and the
ALUMNI IMPUMELELO
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