As part of engaging with various stakeholders of the University, the new SMU Chancellor, Mr Tito Titus Mboweni is on a “meet and greet” tour. It was on the 07 August 2024 when Mboweni, met with the Management, Labour and Student representatives, led by Vice-Chancellor, Prof Peter Mbati. This could in many ways be considered to be a historical moment. In the midst of the excitement in the room, as colleagues introduced themselves, in response to a colleague who appreciated the Chancellor’s culinary skills, he said “You’ll be glad that I did not prepare lunch today”, much to the laughter of the members in the room.

The meeting started with a brief reflection, led by Prof. Mbati, on the University’s achievements and future plans with regard to infrastructure, academic development, research and innovation, further reflecting on the organizational culture and the stability on campus. He further indicated the need to introduce new academic programmes and complementary staff to ensure the university’s financial sustainability.

But who is Mr Mboweni?
Mr Mboweni served as Minister of Finance and Minister of Labour. He was Deputy Head of the Department of Economic Policy in the African National Congress (ANC). He also represented the ANC on several domestic and international platforms. Furthermore, he was the eighth Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB). Educationally, Mr Mboweni obtained a Bachelor of Arts (honours equivalent) degree in Economics and Political Science from the National University of Lesotho in 1985. In 1987 he obtained a Master of Arts degree in Development Economics from the University of East Anglia in England.

Currently, he is an International Advisor to Goldman Sachs International and chairman of the following companies: Accelerate Property Fund, Nampak Limited, and SacOil Holdings Limited. He is also a non-executive director at Discovery Limited and a founding partner of Mboweni Brothers Investment Holdings.

As a former Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Mboweni’s signature is still circulating with some of the bank notes in use to this today – a testament that he is one of the well-known public figures in our country. The meeting underscored the following, amongst others:

• A need to explore the possibility of bringing to fruition the establishment of a fit for purpose hospital, that could catapult the University to greater heights, particularly, in respect of its commitment to expand its clinical training platforms and research. In this regard, it was underscored that the current Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital is not adequate for the training of a large cohort of health care professionals at undergraduate and post- graduate level.
• The imperative to leverage networks that the Chancellor built over time for the benefit of SMU, including exploring possible international partnerships between SMU and other like-minded institutions, both on the African continent and other parts of the world.
• Unlocking resources from the private sector with a view to supporting the University’s research niche areas and other capital raising projects the University has identified for its built programme.
• Investment in the academic and research infrastructure of the University could not be over-emphasised, including the creation of research chairs in areas where SMU has demonstrated remarkable strength over the years.

As the meeting concluded, it become clear that there is a need for SMU to identify key catalytic projects to ensure a focused approach to academic, infrastructure development, partnerships and resource mobilization to ensure its sustainability. Given the ease and effortlessness with which Mboweni shared his professional experience both in the public and private sector, SMU could not have appointed an excellent Chancellor. His knowledge of the Higher Education sector, and the possible interfaces it might need to deliberately create, was a demonstration of his pragmatic approach to issues. His ability to hold simultaneously in his thought processes that (i) contradictions are an inherent mechanism in the advancement of social change and (ii) the resources that universities need are largely in the hands of private capital, was a masterstroke. It was emphasized that public and private sectors in South Africa must work together, for the greater good of our country.