Unisa honours stateswoman Dr Naledi Pandor with Leadership in Practice Award

Prof Puleng LenkaBula (left) and Prof Pumela Msweli (right), proudly present the 2025 Leadership in Practice Award to the esteemed Dr Naledi Pandor (centre), in recognition of her outstanding contributions to leadership and public service

In its diamond jubilee year, the Unisa Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) honoured Dr Naledi Pandor for her impactful leadership by conferring on her the prestigious Leadership in Practice Award under the theme "Unwavering Voice".

Speaking at the award ceremony at the SBL’s Midrand Campus, Unisa’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, placed Pandor’s contributions within a broader heritage of leadership and transformation. "We are celebrating one of the outstanding daughters of Africa – an excellent woman who has served and led South Africa with distinction for five decades," she said, highlighting Pandor’s pivotal role in steering higher education mergers and her bold stance at the International Court of Justice.

Pandor’s selection for the award reflects not only her remarkable contributions but also the SBL’s tradition of honouring principled, courageous and transformative leadership. In Pandor, the school recognised a voice that has risen above the noise to defend democracy, to expand access to education and to carry South Africa’s values onto the global stage.

Over the years, the award has been bestowed on some of the nation’s most distinguished leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, Dr Mamphela Ramphele, Advocate Thuli Mandonsela, and the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, Lesetja Kganyago.

Prof Pumela Msweli, Executive Director and CEO of Unisa SBL, explained why Pandor was a natural choice for this year’s award: "Her leadership has been marked by resilience, courage and integrity," she said. "She has spoken boldly against corruption, defended democracy when others faltered, and consistently reminded us that integrity and accountability are not optional but essential. Her voice does not echo with the crowd; it rises above it. She speaks not for applause, but for truth."

As she accepted the award, Pandor reflected on the progress made in post-apartheid higher education while acknowledging the work still ahead. Her vision for universities as solution creators, rather than just problem identifiers, offers a blueprint for how educational institutions can drive national development through strategic partnerships and innovation.

She expressed gratitude but also issued a challenge: "I wish to close by offering a challenge to the university and all our tertiary institutions: assist our policymakers by developing a strong focus on finding solutions to our challenges rather than merely identifying problems." Her words reminded the audience that leadership is measured by the actions that change lives, not recognition alone.

This year’s award carried special symbolic significance. As the SBL celebrates 60 years of shaping leaders who transform industries, strengthen nations and inspire communities, recognising Dr Pandor crystallised the school’s enduring commitment to impactful leadership. "Tonight, we do more than confer an award," Msweli remarked. "We celebrate the story of a teacher, a minister, a public servant and an academic whose life reminds us that a single unwavering voice can guide nations through turbulent times."

* By Thina Anathi Gwiliza, Communication and Marketing Specialist, Unisa SBL