New chancellor Brian Figaji advocates for ethical leadership at CPUT

Professor Brian Figaji has committed to improving the calibre of leadership in South Africa, a pledge made at his installation as the new Chancellor of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), the Western Cape's largest university.

Figaji is CPUT's third Chancellor and dedicated 25 years of his distinguished career to one of its legacy institutions, the Peninsula Technikon, where he served as Vice-Chancellor for a decade until the merger creating CPUT in 2005.

Figaji made his remarks at his Installation as the new Chancellor of the CPUT at a ceremony held on Wednesday.

Figaji told the audience that during his tenure as Pen Tech Rector he often had to lean into his values, even when it was challenging to do so.

"If we are to build a values-based society with ethical leadership, then Higher Education has a significant role to play in the formation of those future leaders.

"I would certainly want to support an institution that foregrounds its values not only for the enhancement of its own culture but as the institution's contribution to the building of a new South African society," he said.

Figaji stressed that everything undertaken by the institution needed to align with the university values system, and that both staff and students should be held equally accountable.

"Students must be exposed to some form of knowledge exchange on what ethical leadership is about and what it demands of every individual.

"It is not enough to adopt a set of values that we hang on the wall and print in booklets for passive reading. No, it requires a plan of action that may well require resourcing and drive from the very top of the organisation," he said.

CPUT Chair of Council Dr Laurine Platsky said that Figaji's appointment was a purposeful one because he represented ethical leadership.

"We wanted an ethically sound Chancellor so we chose very carefully when considering the candidates. Prof Figaji is exactly what South Africa needs, a principled leader who has never been afraid of speaking truth to power," she said.

CPUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Chris Nhlapo said Figaji's institutional memory means he understands the culture and people of the university.

"On behalf of our past and present students and the legacy institutions I extend a heartfelt thanks to Professor Figaji for his lifelong commitment to advancing education for the South African youth," he said. During his acceptance speech he said he felt honoured and missed his mentor and friend Dr Franklin Sonn (former Rector) who passed away recently.

"I know that from where he is now, he is looking down on us with great pride and a sense of fulfillment," he said.

"While each one of us has a responsibility to build this new society I would like to consider what the role of an institution like CPUT could be in this context.

"I am a strong advocate for a values-based system, it probably comes from my Scout background, but it was also something that Franklin and I shared very deeply, and I am very happy that CPUT continues to have a strong values base."

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