Mamokgethi Phakeng

Rosina Mamokgethi Phakeng GCOB (née Mmutlana, born 1 November 1966)[3] is a South African[4] professor of mathematics education who in 2018 became a vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT),[5][6] She has been the vice principal of research and innovation, at the University of South Africa[7] and acting executive dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at UNISA. In 2018 she was an invited speaker at the International Congresses of Mathematicians.

Mamokgethi Phakeng
Mamokgethi Phakeng
Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Town
Assumed office
1 July 2018[1]
ChancellorGraça Machel
Precious Moloi-Motsepe
Preceded byMax Price
Personal details
Born (1966-11-01) 1 November 1966
Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
Children1
Alma materUniversity of North-West
University of the Witwatersrand
OccupationVice Chancellor University of Cape Town
AwardsAfrica Education Medal (2022)[2]

Early life

Phakeng was born in Eastwood, Pretoria, to Frank and Wendy Mmutlana (née Thipe). Her mother went back to school after having her three children to complete Form 3 as entry to gaining a Primary Teachers Certificate to practice as a teacher. Her father was one of the first black radio announcers at the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

Phakeng started school in 1972 at Ikageleng Primary in Marapyane village and then Ikageng Primary in Ga-Rankuwa. She attended Tsela-tshweu higher primary; Tswelelang Higher Primary; Thuto-Thebe Middle School; Odi High School and Hebron. She completed her matric with University Exemption in 1983 (Grade 12) in the village of Hebron's College of Education.

Higher education

She achieved a BSc in pure mathematics at the University of North-West,[3] and a MSc in mathematics education at the University of the Witwatersrand.[3] In 2002 she became the first black female South African to obtain a PhD in mathematics education.[8][9] In September 2022, Mamokgethi Phakeng won the first Africa Education Medal. Mamokgethi Phakeng was chosen for her commitment to promoting education in Africa, particularly for her research on language practices in multilingual mathematics classrooms.[10]

Career accomplishments

Phakeng has won awards for excellence in service. These honors include:

  • Doctor of Science, honoris causa, University of Bristol
  • The Order of the Baobab (Silver) for her excellent contribution in the field of science and representing South Africa on the international stage through her outstanding research work presented to her by former president of South Africa Jacob Zuma. (April 2016)
  • CEO Magazine award for being the most influential woman in education and training in South Africa (August 2013):
  • NSTF award for being the most outstanding Senior Black Female Researcher over the last 5 to 10 years in recognition of her innovative, quality research on teaching and learning mathematics in multilingual classrooms. (May 2011)
  • Golden key International Society Honorary life membership (May 2009)
  • Association of Mathematics Education of South Africa (AMESA) Honorary life membership (July 2009)
  • Amstel Salute to Success finalist (2005)
  • Dr. T. W. Khambule Research Award for being the most outstanding young female black researcher for 2003: Conferred by the NSTF (May 2004)
  • Outstanding Service Award (Education category). Conferred by the Sunday Sun and Christ Centred Church (2004).
  • Finalist for SA Woman of the Year in the Science and Technology Category (2003).
  • Prestige National Award South Africa's Inspirational Women Achievers Award -Conferred by RCP Media, (June 2003).
  • NRF Thuthuka Award (2003–2008).
  • National Research Foundation/National Science Foundation USA/SA fellowship (2001; 2003)
  • Mellon Award (1998 – 2000)
  • SAB Women in Rural Areas Award (1997).[11]

Positions held

Personal life

Phakeng was married to Richard Setati for 19 years (1988–2007) and they had one son,[20] Tsholofelo who was born in 1990. In 2012, she married Madimetja Lucky Phakeng, thereby adding the appendage "Phakeng" to her surname. Lucky Phakeng is an advocate currently heading the Takeover Regulation Panel.

Controversy

Shortly after being appointed to the position as vice-chancellor of UCT allegations questioning Phakeng's academic credentials emerged which were refuted as being part of a smear campaign against her.[21]

Twitter

During her time at UCT a number of controversial social media statements have been made via Phakeng's Twitter account.[22][23][24]

In 2018 Phakeng controversially congratulated a UCT student on social media who notably ended their undergraduate paper with the racially divisive slogan "One Settler, One Bullet."[25][26] Phakeng later stated she regretted the divisive incident, did not see the statement before making the congratulatory statement,[27] would never support calls for violence, and was instead trying to congratulate a student on a significant personal academic milestone.[28][29]

Managerial style

Phakeng's tenure as vice-chancellor of UCT has been controversial with accusations by university academics[30][31] and the university's ombud[32][33] that she allowed for the emergence of a culture of fear,[30][32] secrecy, racialisation, unfair treatment and bullying within the university that has resulted in the departure of numerous academics.[30][33][34] The ombud[35] and the university's former deputy council chair[34] have accused Phakeng of covering up accusations and findings against her whilst the university's former deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning has accused her of having deliberately misled university's Senate.[30] In a Senate vote on the matter Phakeng controversially cast a deciding vote against an independent investigation into her own conduct, thereby possibly breaching university conflict of interest rules.[31] Phakeng's supporters, including the Economic Freedom Fighters,[30] allege that she has been targeted by groups resistant to racial transformation of the university.[30][34] UCT stated that the accusations against Phekeng contained within a 2022 Daily Maverick article on the matter were "incorrect, misleading and unethical";[36] the Daily Maverick disputed UCT's criticisms of their article.[37]

References
  1. University of Cape Town. "Vice-Chancellor". Retrieved 19 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Africa Education Medal | T4 Education". t4.education. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  3. "Mamokgethi (Kgethi) Setati". Who's Who SA. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  4. "Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, PhD". South African PhD Project. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  5. "Vice-chancellor| University of Cape Town". uct.ac.za. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  6. Pityana, Sipho (17 March 2018). "Appointment of New Vice-Chancellor" (Press release). Cape Town: University of Cape Town. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  7. "Unisa Online - Executive management". University of South Africa. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  8. "convocation". Wits University. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  9. "Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng appointed new UCT vice-chancellor". New24. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  10. Zuma, Mbalenhle (6 September 2022). "Minister Nzimande sings praises of professor Mamokgethi Phakeng". Sunday World. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  11. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Prof Mamokgethi Setati – Executive Dean: College of Science, Engineering and Technology". Unisa Online. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  13. "Ass.Prof Mamokgethi Setati". University of the Witwatersrand. Wits Marketing. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  14. "Prof Mamokgethi Setati". International Commission on Mathematics Instruction. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  15. "200 Young South Africans You Must Take to Lunch: Education & Science". Mail & Guardian. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  16. "Profile of Trustees". FirstRand Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  17. "200 Young South Africans You Must Take to Lunch: Science". Mail & Guardian. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  18. Karolia, Sameerah (19 August 2010). "The problem solver". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  19. Bristol, University of. "2021: Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng BIVP announcement | International Research Partnerships | University of Bristol". www.bristol.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  20. "Setati, Mamokgethi". The Little Black Book. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  21. "UCT, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng and accusations of fake qualifications". The Mail & Guardian. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  22. Charles, Marvin. "Phakeng says UCT instructed her to hire social media manager amid storm over tweets". News24. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  23. Charles, Marvin. "UCT vice-chancellor Phakeng faces scrutiny over photo of her posing with rifle posted on Twitter". News24. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  24. Dlamini, Penwell (25 May 2022). "UCT vice-chancellor retracts 'insensitive' comment about student's sexual assault complaint". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  25. "UCT vice-chancellor praises student for work signed off with 'one settler‚ one bullet'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  26. May, Athina. "Anger after UCT activist ends dissertation with 'one settler, one bullet'". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  27. "'One settler, one bullet' slogan is divisive - UCT vice-chancellor". News24. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  28. "'I regret that': UCT vice-chancellor on 'one settler, one bullet'". TimesLIVE. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  29. "One settler, one bullet: Why Masixole Mlandu won`t be disciplined - Mamokgethi Phakeng - DOCUMENTS | Politicsweb". www.politicsweb.co.za. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  30. Davis, Rebecca (2 October 2022). "INVESTIGATION : Dark days: Accusations of capture and governance instability rock UCT". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  31. Davis, Rebecca (7 October 2022). "DARK DAYS: UCT council publicly splits over governance allegations as VC and chair fail to recuse themselves from vote". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  32. Wire, News24 (22 July 2020). "UCT affirms support for vice-chancellor Mamokgethi Phakeng". The Citizen. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  33. Williams, Murray. "Fear and loathing at UCT as university Ombud calls VC Mamokgethi Phakeng a 'bully'". News24. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  34. Huisman, Biénne (14 July 2020). "LEADERSHIP CRISIS?: Clouds continue to gather over UCT vice-chancellor". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  35. Williams, Murray. "UCT Ombud accuses varsity of covering up 'bullying' by vice-chancellor Phakeng". News24. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  36. Elijah, Moholola (7 October 2022). "UCT's response to incorrect, misleading and unethical claims around governance at the institution" (PDF). University of Cape Town. Retrieved 10 October 2022.
  37. Moholola, Elijah (7 October 2022). "RIGHT OF REPLY: Report on alleged 'capture' at UCT is mischievous, unethical and misleading". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
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