By Charmaine Ndlela
Professor Wezile Chitha has been appointed vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Fort Hare following a unanimous decision by the university’s Council at a special meeting on Friday.
Chitha is expected to assume office in the first quarter of 2027.
He is currently executive dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Walter Sisulu University, where he also serves as an associate professor of health systems and policy.
A medical doctor, health economist and experienced academic executive, Chitha takes over as Fort Hare advances its institutional re-visioning and rebirth agenda, which aims to strengthen academic excellence, research, governance, infrastructure and the student experience towards 2040.
He replaces Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, who resigned in September shortly before he was due to begin presenting his defence at a disciplinary hearing.
Buhlungu faces several disciplinary charges, including gross misconduct, insubordination and bringing the university into disrepute.
Council chairperson Dr Siyanda Makaula said the appointment reflected confidence in Chitha’s academic credentials, leadership experience and understanding of institutional governance and transformation.
“The appointment of Professor Chitha marks an important moment in the history of the University of Fort Hare as we advance our journey of institutional re-visioning and rebirth,” Makaula said.
Chitha holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB), a master’s degree in public health specialising in Health Economics from the University of Cape Town, and a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Public Health from Walter Sisulu University.
He currently serves as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Walter Sisulu University, where he is also an Associate Professor of Health Systems and Policy.
His previous leadership roles include Acting Assistant Dean for Strategic Affairs at the University of the Witwatersrand and founding Director of the Albertina Sisulu Centre for Global Health and Research.
He was also elected president of the Health Professions Council of South Africa for the 2025-2030 term.
Before moving further into academic leadership, Chitha held senior management positions in the public healthcare sector, overseeing hospital services and implementing health programmes.
As head of Mowbray Maternity Hospital, he managed obstetric and neonatal services at the regional hospital, alongside community-based midwife obstetric units serving peri-urban communities.
Under his leadership, the hospital received the Western Cape Premier’s Service Excellence Award, announced in early 2008.
Later that year, Frontier Hospital, where he served as chief medical superintendent, was named the Eastern Cape Department of Health’s best-performing hospital.
His research interests include health systems strengthening, public health policy, health economics, clinical governance and equitable access to healthcare.
Fort Hare said Chitha’s appointment comes as the university prepares a new strategic framework to guide its development towards 2040, with priorities including research impact, institutional sustainability, effective governance, infrastructure development and an improved student experience.
Makaula said the university needed leadership that could preserve its historical legacy while responding to the demands of higher education.
“As we look towards 2040, our responsibility is to build a University that honours its extraordinary history while responding decisively to the demands of the future,” he said.
The university said the recruitment process followed its approved procedures and included candidate screening, shortlisting, competency-based assessments, strategic presentations and structured interviews.
On October 15, shortlisted candidates presented their visions for the university’s development towards 2040 at a joint sitting of Council, Senate and the Institutional Forum. Representatives of the Student Representative Council, Convocation and organised labour also attended.
Formal interviews took place on October 16.
Council considered the unanimous recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor Recruitment and Selection Committee, institutional voting outcomes and candidate assessments before making its decision.
According to the university, Chitha was the highest-ranked candidate in both the Senate and Institutional Forum assessments.
Makaula said the process demonstrated the importance of participation and collective responsibility in selecting the university’s leadership.
He congratulated Chitha on his appointment and called on students, staff, alumni and other stakeholders to support the incoming vice-chancellor.
“The future of Fort Hare is a shared responsibility, and its success will depend on the collective commitment of our students, staff, alumni and institutional stakeholders,” Makaula said.
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