By Charmaine Ndlela
Former Auditor-General Terence Nombembe has been appointed chairperson of the University of the Witwatersrand Council for a three-year term, with the option of renewal, the university said on Thursday.
Nombembe was the first black South African to serve as Auditor-General in the institution’s 100-year history and brings extensive experience in governance, ethics and public accountability to the role.
Wits Chancellor Judy Dlamini welcomed the appointment, describing Nombembe as “a wise, accessible and ethical leader”.
“We are pleased to welcome Mr Nombembe to Wits. We look forward to working with him,” Dlamini said.
Nombembe said he was honoured to take up the position and committed to strengthening governance in higher education.
“I am pleased to serve in this role and I look forward to building on the strong governance foundation that Council has established,” he said.
Nombembe served as chief executive of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants from 2014 to 2019.
In 2018, he joined the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, known as the Zondo Commission, as head of investigations, serving until the commission concluded its work in 2022.
He also served on the board of the South African Reserve Bank until 2023 and completed his tenure as chairperson of the Gauteng Ethics Advisory Council in 2024.
“These roles have placed me in good stead to accept this key position in higher education. I believe that universities have a role to play in sustainable nation building and we must safeguard against leadership override of good governance and internal controls,” Nombembe said.
Nombembe holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Transkei and a BCompt Honours degree from the University of South Africa. He qualified as a chartered accountant in 1990.
His career includes senior roles at KPMG, Unilever South Africa and BP Southern Africa, where he gained experience in auditing, financial management and corporate governance.
He has received several honours for ethical leadership and public service, including the Jörg Kandutsch Excellence Award from the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions, as well as honorary doctorates from Walter Sisulu University and the University of Pretoria.
Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal Zeblon Vilakazi described Nombembe as a leader of “exceptional integrity and distinction”.
“We are honoured to welcome him and look forward to working with him in advancing Wits’ mission of academic excellence and societal impact,” Vilakazi said.
The university said Nombembe’s experience and principled approach to governance aligned closely with Wits’ institutional values.
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