06 November 2025
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Prof Bulelwa Nguza-Mduba, newly appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People and Operations at the University of the Free State.
The University of the Free State (UFS) is pleased to announce the appointment of
Prof Bulelwa Nguza-Mduba as Deputy Vice-Chancellor: People and Operations, effective 1 January 2026. In this role, Prof Nguza-Mbuda will provide strategic leadership for the Human Resources, University Estates, Protection Services, Information and Communication Technology Services, and Commercial Enterprise portfolios.
Prof Nguza-Mduba currently serves as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Management and Public Administration Sciences at Walter Sisulu University (WSU). She previously held the role of acting Rector of the Butterworth Campus (2021-2023), where she oversaw institutional operations spanning Teaching and Learning, Governance, Information and Technology Services, Finance, and Student Affairs.
A seasoned higher education leader, Prof Nguza-Mduba holds a Doctor of Business Administration (University of KwaZulu-Natal), master’s degrees in business leadership (Unisa) and education (UFS), as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Higher Education Management (University of Bath, United Kingdom). Her academic foundation also includes multiple qualifications in commerce and education from Unisa and the former University of Transkei.
She is an active contributor to the national higher education ecosystem through roles in Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education (EDHE), the community of practice for university management, and Higher Education Leadership and Management (HELM). Her scholarly work focuses on entrepreneurship, and she has successfully supervised postgraduate research in public and business administration.
Prof Nguza-Mduba is recognised for bridging academia and societal impact, having led initiatives in youth empowerment, tourism partnerships with municipalities, rehabilitative training for inmates, and support programmes for the elderly. She has also generated significant third-stream income, securing grants from FASSET and BANKSETA to advance student support, infrastructure development, and community-based innovation.
“Prof Nguza-Mduba brings a wealth of experience and insight to this role. Her leadership reflects a strong commitment to advancing innovation and excellence across the higher education sector. Her appointment strengthens the university’s strategic focus on people-centred leadership, operational excellence, and socially responsive transformation. I extend my congratulations and best wishes to Prof Nguza-Mduba for success in this important leadership role,” says
Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the UFS.