By Levy Masiteng
The Central University of Technology, Free State (CUT) Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Pamela Zibuyile Dube, will take early retirement at the end of 2026, bringing her tenure at the university to an end after four years at the helm.
The CUT Council has accepted Prof. Dube’s decision to retire early, with her retirement taking effect on 31 December 2026.
The announcement was made by the university through the council, which said it would now begin considering the governance and leadership arrangements needed to ensure a smooth transition.
“Prof. Dube’s tenure has been characterised by visionary leadership, resilience and a steadfast pursuit of institutional excellence,” the university said.
According to CUT, Dube’s leadership saw the university strengthen its academic and research profile, expand strategic partnerships, promote innovation and entrepreneurship, advance student success and accelerate the implementation of its Vision 2030 strategy.
Dube was appointed as CUT’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal after an extensive selection process, with her appointment announced in October 2022.
She formally took up the position on 1 January 2023, succeeding Professor Alfred Ngowi, who had served as acting vice-chancellor during the leadership transition.
Her appointment marked a historic moment for the institution.
Dube became the first woman to serve as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of CUT, as well as the first female vice-chancellor in the Free State. She was formally inaugurated on 17 February 2023.
Before joining CUT, Dube served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Development and Support at the University of the Western Cape.
Her career in higher education and public-sector leadership has included positions at the University of Siegen in Germany, the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Wits University, the former National Department of Education, the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation and the University of Johannesburg.
In 2025, Dube was appointed Deputy Chairperson of the Universities South Africa Board of Directors, effective from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. She had also served on the USAf board since March 2023.
In April 2026, CUT also announced Dube’s appointment as Chairperson of the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA) Board of Directors, with her term running from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2028.
Dube described her time at CUT as a privilege and thanked the university community for its support.
She reaffirmed that, although she would be stepping down from her role, she would continue to support the success of CUT and the higher education sector.
Council said it would consider the governance implications of the notice of retirement, including arrangements for an acting vice-chancellor and principal and the process for appointing new leadership.
The university said the transition process would be guided by the need to “preserve business continuity, sustain strategic momentum and minimise disruption” to CUT’s operations.
“On behalf of the university, we extend our sincere appreciation to Prof. Pamela Dube for her dedicated service, visionary leadership, and unwavering commitment to the advancement of CUT,” council said.
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