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Mamokgethi Phakeng

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 137.158.132.169 (talk) at 12:35, 15 March 2023 (The information that was removed was false and had malicious intentions. The targeted individual had been a victim of racism and sexism at the institution she was working at and it is clearly evident that the racists are still going on with their smear campaign.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Mamokgethi Phakeng
Mamokgethi Phakeng
Former Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Town
In office
1 July 2018[1] – 3 March 2023[2]
ChancellorGraça Machel
Precious Moloi-Motsepe
Preceded byMax Price
Succeeded byDaya Reddy
Personal details
Born (1966-11-01) 1 November 1966 (age 58)
Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, South Africa
Children1
Alma materUniversity of North-West
University of the Witwatersrand
AwardsAfrica Education Medal (2022)[3]

Rosina Mamokgethi Phakeng GCOB (née Mmutlana, born 1 November 1966)[4] is a South African[5] professor of mathematics education who in 2018 became a vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town (UCT).[6][7] She has been the vice principal of research and innovation, at the University of South Africa[8] 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.[citation needed] In February 2023 it was announced that she would leave her position as vice-chancellor of UCT and take early retirement.[9] She was succeedded by Professor Daya Reddy on 13th of March 2023[10]

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).[citation needed]

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.[citation needed]

Higher education

Phakeng achieved a Bachelor of education in mathematics education at the University of North-West,[4] and a M.ed in mathematics education at the University of the Witwatersrand,[4] and in 2002 became the first black female South African to obtain a PhD in mathematics education.[11][12] In September 2022, Phakeng won the first Africa Education Medal for her commitment to promoting education in Africa, particularly for her research on language practices in multilingual mathematics classrooms.[13]

Career accomplishments

Phakeng has won awards for excellence in service. These honors include:[citation needed]

  • 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).[14]

Positions held

Personal life

Phakeng was married to Richard Setati for 19 years (1988–2007) and they had one son,[23] 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.[citation needed]

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.[24]

There has been rumors according to www.iol.co.za that Mamokgethi Phakeng has been a victim of bullying-contrary to other reports that stated that painted her as the perpetrator, Jeremy Seekings a University of Cape Town senior lecturer was identified as one of the people at the University who has been bullying Phakeng instead https://news.knowledia.com/ZA/en/articles/uct-s-vc-phakeng-cleared-on-bullying-allegations-901385af970fe7d5a4a1dfbc6315b2adfd06b3ac. Their beef emerged after Mamokgethi Phakeng called out Seeking's wife Nattrass (a University of Cape Town professor) over racist and unethical research https://news.knowledia.com/ZA/en/articles/uct-s-vc-phakeng-cleared-on-bullying-allegations-901385af970fe7d5a4a1dfbc6315b2adfd06b3ac, https://www.news24.com/news24/opinions/columnists/guestcolumn/opinion-nattrass-study-was-racist-whether-black-people-are-offended-or-not-20200723. It is claimed that after that incident that Phakeng's life at the University of Cape Town had never been the same. According to iol newspaper Phakeng is said to have suffered unimaginable trauma from the stress induced by her bullies at her former institution, at one point it was reported that she got admitted to a private hospital in Cape Town https://www-iol-co-za.webpkgcache.com/doc/-/s/www.iol.co.za/education/uct-vice-chancellor-mamokgethi-phakeng-admitted-to-hospital-10188eed-ee62-4cac-bfe9-785b84850be4 . According to interview she had at eNCA with JJ Tabane she stated that media houses such as News24 and the daily mavericks were captured and have been weaponized to attack her, she claimed that lies were peddled, for example in the same interview she stated that at one point she went on a game drive at her brother's farm outside of South Africa where she took a picture holding a rifle and posted on her Twitter page with the caption "somewhere in Africa" https://twitter.com/FabAcademic/status/1610234787897171969?s=20, to which News24 twisted the caption to suit their narrative by writing that she had said this is for my haters, she stated. Disparaging comments about Phakeng were made every year since she joined the institution, in 2020 she was accused of bullying to which she was absolved of by an independent panel https://www.iol.co.za/sundayindependent/news/ucts-vc-phakeng-cleared-on-bullying-allegations-920b8e57-3023-4ba9-b8b7-ae3b10688133, https://news.knowledia.com/ZA/en/articles/uct-s-vc-phakeng-cleared-on-bullying-allegations-901385af970fe7d5a4a1dfbc6315b2adfd06b3ac

References

  1. ^ University of Cape Town. "Vice-Chancellor". Retrieved 19 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ University of Cape Town. "Acting Vice-Chancellor arrangements". Retrieved 4 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Africa Education Medal | T4 Education". t4.education. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
  4. ^ a b c d "Mamokgethi (Kgethi) Setati". Who's Who SA. Archived from the original on 15 December 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  5. ^ "Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, PhD". South African PhD Project. Archived from the original on 1 March 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  6. ^ "Vice-chancellor| University of Cape Town". uct.ac.za. Retrieved 10 August 2017.
  7. ^ Pityana, Sipho (17 March 2018). "Appointment of New Vice-Chancellor" (Press release). Cape Town: University of Cape Town. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  8. ^ "Unisa Online - Executive management". University of South Africa. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  9. ^ Chironda, Melody (22 February 2023). "South Africa: UCT Vice Chancellor to Leave With Golden Handshake - South African News Briefs - February 22, 2023". allAfrica.com. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  10. ^ "Appointment of the interim Vice-Chancellor". www.news.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  11. ^ "convocation". Wits University. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  12. ^ "Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng appointed new UCT vice-chancellor". New24. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  13. ^ Zuma, Mbalenhle (6 September 2022). "Minister Nzimande sings praises of professor Mamokgethi Phakeng". Sunday World. Retrieved 10 September 2022.
  14. ^ "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)
  15. ^ "Prof Mamokgethi Setati – Executive Dean: College of Science, Engineering and Technology". Unisa Online. Retrieved 6 June 2010.
  16. ^ "Ass.Prof Mamokgethi Setati". University of the Witwatersrand. Wits Marketing. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  17. ^ "Prof Mamokgethi Setati". International Commission on Mathematics Instruction. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
  18. ^ "200 Young South Africans You Must Take to Lunch: Education & Science". Mail & Guardian. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  19. ^ "Profile of Trustees". FirstRand Foundation. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  20. ^ "200 Young South Africans You Must Take to Lunch: Science". Mail & Guardian. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  21. ^ Karolia, Sameerah (19 August 2010). "The problem solver". Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  22. ^ Bristol, University of. "2021: Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng BIVP announcement | International Research Partnerships | University of Bristol". www.bristol.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Setati, Mamokgethi". The Little Black Book. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  24. ^ "UCT, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng and accusations of fake qualifications". The Mail & Guardian. 11 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
Academic offices
Preceded by Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town
July 2018 – present 		Incumbent
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