The Council of the University of the Free State (UFS) reappointed Mr David Noko for a second term as Chairperson during its meeting on 26 September 2025. His second term commenced on 1 October 2025, and it will come to an end on 13 September 2027. 

“It is an honour for me to be re-elected as the Chairperson of Council. I cherish my involvement with the Council and am honoured to be part of the University of the Free State in this way. I have experienced immense commitment from the Council during my tenure as Chairperson and look forward to continuing to serve,” said Mr Noko. 

“On behalf of the university’s Executive Committee and the university community, I congratulate Mr Noko on his reappointment as Chairperson. This reappointment is a testament to his exceptional leadership and his wealth of experience in governance and serving on various boards. We deeply appreciate his continued commitment to the university,” said Prof Hester C. Klopper, Vice-Chancellor and Principal.

Mr Noko is well-known and respected internationally as a business leader. He holds a National Higher Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from the Technikon Witwatersrand (now the University of Johannesburg), a Management Development Programme (MDP) Certificate from the University of the Witwatersrand, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Company Directorships from the Graduate Institute of Management and Technology. He also completed a master’s degree in business administration at the Heriot-Watt University and a Senior Executive Programme at the London Business School.

 

Before retiring from the corporate world in 2019, Mr Noko was the Executive Vice-President of AngloGold Ashanti, where he was responsible for the company’s global Sustainable Development and Government Relations portfolios. His career began at the General Electric Company (GEC) before moving to South African Breweries in 1987, and then to Pepsi-Cola International in 1994, where he gained extensive international exposure and global experience.

 

In 1999, Mr Noko was appointed as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Chefs (Pty) Ltd in South Africa, before joining De Beers in 2002. In 2006, he was appointed Managing Director and CEO of De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited (DBCM), and in 2010 he founded his own company, CelaCorp (Pty) Ltd. He also founded ESG Advisory (Pty) Ltd, a company providing advisory services to corporates relating to environment, social, and governance matters, mostly focusing on mining companies. He is a member of the Institute of Directors SA and has served on the boards of Royal Bafokeng Platinum Limited, Harmony Gold (Deputy Chairman), AstraPak Ltd, and PlatiStone Holdings (Chairman). He is currently a board director of African Rainbow Minerals Ltd, Tongaat Hulett Ltd, and Aveng Moolmans (Pty) Ltd.

Mr Noko’s first term as Chairperson of the UFS Council commenced on 1 October 2021.