Despite heavy showers, Convocants from across South Africa and beyond its borders attended the 2012 Convocation meeting which was held on 24 November at the Senate Hall, Unisa Muckleneuk Campus.
This meeting coincided with the yearly convenors’ workshop which took place on Friday 23 November 2012 at the Kgorong Building and thus allowed the convenors of the different chapters to also attend the Convocation. Convenors as far as Mauritius and Namibia attended the workshop and the Convocation.
Prof Narend Baijnath, Unisa’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor, chaired the well attended meeting on behalf of Prof Mandla Makhanya, Unisa’s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, who was in a meeting with the Chairperson of Council, Dr NM Phosa. Prof Makhanya then chaired the meeting but left before the closure of the meeting. Also forming part of the panel was Prof Mogege Mosimege, the University Registrar.
As stipulated on the Unisa alumni website, the Convocation is responsible for raising matters of concern about the development of the university. An annual meeting provides first-hand information about the strategic direction of the university, policy formulations and other development issues. Accordingly, every graduate with a degree or diploma forms a member of Convocation and is entitled to attend.
The President of Convocation, Dr Claudelle von Eck, could not attend the meeting as she had to be in the US to attend to other business commitments. Mr Peter Vundla, the second Representative of Convocation on the Unisa Council and Chair of the African Merchant and Investment Bank, read her address on her behalf. The address focused on garnering support from alumni towards the university.
Prof Mandla Makhanya gave an address about 2012: Taking stock and looking to the future which is a reflection of 2012 and a glimpse into the future of 2013. “So I thought that this morning I would reflect back briefly on 2012 and then turn our collective gaze to what we aspire to as an institution in 2013, so that as Convocation you will know where we are headed.”
Heeding the call from Prof Makhanya, Convocants, who included 120 alumni and academic staff members and ten members of the executive, posed questions to the panel which crafted more excitement about future endeavours of the university.
A quorum for the meeting was met as the meeting only requires 50 alumni, members of the executive and academic staff members to make up the required quorum. The next Convocation meeting will be held on 2 November 2013.
 Mr Peter Vundla, representative of the Convocation, reading the address on behalf of the President of the Convocation, Dr Claudelle von Eck |
 Convocants listening attentively to the discussions |
