By Tendai Dhliwayo
THE University of Witwatersrand could promote Professor Loyiso Nongxa, a respected mathematician cum philosopher, to the post of vice-chancellor and Principal. Nongxa (50) has distinguished himself as a vice-chancellor (Research) and as the acting vice-chancellor and Principal at the institution.
He is the only candidate short-listed by the sixteen-member senior appointments selection committee for the post.
The post of vice-chancellor and Principal's fell vacant when Professor Norma Ried-Birley exited last year.
Wits spokesperson, Mandla Radebe, confirmed that Nongxa is the only short listed candidate, adding that the professor will have to make a public presentation in May and a panel interview will follow thereafter.
"After extensive deliberation, the committee agreed unanimously that only one candidate, Professor Loyiso Nongxa, met the requirements for the post," Radebe said.
Nongxa is a mathematician from the University of Fort Hare and is the first African Rhodes scholar from South Africa. He completed his Philosophy Doctorate at Oxford University and has held visiting appointments and fellowships at various prestigious universities including Harvard, Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois and Baylor (Texas).
He was Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of the Western Cape where he also held a professorial position for a decade.
