By Staff Reporter
The University of Pretoria’s Women in Leadership Programme(WLP) and Art Exhibition was a rare opportunity to gain insight into what it means to be a woman vice-chancellor in South Africa.
Professor Pam Dube, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Central University of Technology (CUT) in the Free State, delivered the inaugural lecture, titled ‘LeadHERship in higher education: Charting new paths’. She also answered questions from the floor about issues such as her self-care strategies as a top woman leader in academia.
The event, held at the Javett-UP Art Centre on 25 August 2025, was organised by the Women in Leadership Programme (WLP), situated in UP’s Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute (ALLI). It came a few days before the launch of LeadHer, the WLP’s new leadership programme to empower women to take up leadership positions and roles.
“It is with great humility, pride and admiration that I recognise the University’s very intentional effort to prepare and support UP women by offering them growth and mentorship opportunities to grow into leadership positions,” said Prof Dube, who in January 2023 became the first woman to hold the position of vice-chancellor at a university in the Free State.
“As one of the few women vice-chancellors in South Africa, I am acutely aware of the ‘LeadHERship’ attribute we must embody,” she said, mentioning attributes such as boldness, courage, collaboration and compassion, as well as awareness of the importance of ubuntu and its practical application.
Prof Dube said “leadHERship” calls for leadership styles that are “nurturing yet firm, inclusive yet decisive, empathetic yet principled”.
Africa’s exemplary women leaders
Emphasising that women leaders should not be “timid and apologetic”, she called for the kind of visionary and courageous leadership shown by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (the first elected female head of state in Africa), Joyce Banda (former President of Malawi), Samia Suluhu Hassan (current President of Tanzania) and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (elected as President of Namibia in January 2025).
Prof Dube also singled out South Africa’s Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the first female chairperson of the African Union Commission, and anti-apartheid activists Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Sophie de Bruyne and Ruth First.
Turning to the race and gender disparities at South African higher education institutions, Prof Dube said the transformation agenda faced impediments from systemic failures, including brain drain as talented academics and graduates seek opportunities abroad owing to economic instability and limited job prospects.
However, the biggest challenge, she said, is getting more women academics into senior positions, especially the professoriate and research leadership.
Male allies are key
In South Africa, only 18.5% of full professors and 29.8% of associate professors are women, according to Professor Loretta Feris, UP’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), who also spoke at the event.
At UP, women account for about a third of full professors and hold only 35% of pipeline positions such as deans, deputy deans and chairs of research, Prof Feris said.
The gender gap is even wider in the current UP Executive management team. A year ago, 50% of members of the Executive were women. “That has changed dramatically. There are now two of us, equating to 28%.”
Referring to the new LeadHer programme, which she champions, Prof Feris said: “It is not that we need to train women to become leaders; it is a question of supporting women to navigate a culture where women are not seen in boardrooms.”
She added: “If this programme is to succeed, we need the support of our male allies. Thank you for being here,” Prof Feris said, addressing the sprinkling of men who attended the lecture.
Self-care strategies
Later, during question time, Prof Dube was asked about her self-care strategies.
“I think self-care comes with a lot of self-knowledge. It’s a practice. Sometimes it really takes time to appreciate that now I am about to reach the edge where I have to start taking care of myself, or do something different that inspires me.
“Actually, coming here for me is self-care. What inspires me is having these discussions that are progressive, that are moving us forward.”
Mentioning other aspects of self-care, Prof Dube said she is an avid reader. “Walking in nature really does inspire and relax me. I also love music, and I love to dance as if no one is watching. For me, self-care is doing things that make me feel childlike and curious.”
*** This article first appeared here ***