Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng-Vice-Chancellor, University of Cape Town

My guest this week is Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng the new Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town.  She officially took up her position at the beginning of July.

We spoke about her childhood and schooling, and how she recognised and cultivated a love for mathematics and mathematics education.  Professor Phakeng is a B1 rated researcher with more than 80 research papers to her name.

The conversation touched on issues around transformation and decolonization of tertiary education and the opportunities that the fees must fall movement can offer a university like UCT.

Mamokgethi also laid out her hopes for how the university might modernise over the next five to ten years, a process she says must begin with joint responsibility and reconciliation. Between all parties

Please not that this interview took place two days before the tragic death of Professor Bongani Mayosi, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT. Prof Mayosi committed suicide on July 27.

Selfie credit: Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng