The University of Fort Hare (UFH) announced today the appointment of Dr Siyanda Makaula – an accomplished higher education strategist and governance specialist –  as the new Chairperson of its Council.

Dr Makaula’s expertise and career spans over two decades across education quality, transformation, and academic governance, state policy bodies and global scientific councils.

His career reflects a rare blend of scholarly achievement, national policy influence, international service, and a track record of public-sector excellence. He holds a PhD and MSc from the University of Cape Town (UCT), and undergraduate and Honours qualifications from Walter Sisulu University (WSU), where he also holds an Adjunct Associate Professorship.   He is a former President of the WSU’s Convocation and a former member of the institution’s Council.

He currently serves as Director of Quality Management at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), where he oversees systems that ensure academic credibility, regulatory alignment, and institutional excellence.

Prior to this, he held senior roles at the Council on Higher Education including Senior Manager for National Standards & Reviews where he worked in the development, evaluation, and protection of academic quality across the entire sector.

His career also includes key strategic roles at the University of Zululand, the University of the Western Cape, and the University of the Witwatersrand, where he contributed to both teaching and academic development.

He also serves on high-level panels of SAQA, and the Council on Higher Education, contributing to the shaping of qualification frameworks, doctoral standards, postgraduate education policy, and national review methodologies. He also served on International Council for Science Unions National Board and leadership of the South African National Committee for the International Union of Physiological Sciences.

Dr Makaula assumes the UFH Council chairpersonship at an important moment, bringing expertise in academic quality and governance, national policy insight, a commitment to transformation, proven leadership, and a globally connected network.

Dr Makaula expressed his dedication to working collaboratively with Council, management, DHET and stakeholders to advance the University of Fort Hare’s interests, strategic trajectory and quality of teaching and research.

The University of Fort Hare community proudly congratulates Dr Siyanda Makaula on his appointment. His leadership promises a new chapter of transformative governance and dynamic leadership for the institution.