About Walter Sisulu
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Email Address:
Contact Numbers:
Mthatha: 047 502 2100
Butterworth: 047 401 6000
East London: 043 702 9200
Potsdam: 043 708 5200
Chiselhurst: 043 709 4000
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu upholds SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions as a core pillar of its transformation, ethical governance, and democratic accountability. Named after the anti - apartheid liberation icon Tatu Walter Sisulu, the university embodies values of integrity, selflessness, human rights, and transparent institut ional oversight across its four constituent campuses.
Institutional Governance, Statutory Bodies & Anti-Corruption Standards
- Promulgation of the Walter Sisulu Institutional Statute (2024). The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) gazetted the new Walter Sisulu University Institutional Statute, 2024 in Government Gazette No. 51352 on 4 October 2024, updating the statutory framework under the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997. Establishes clear legislative parameters for the university Council, Senate, Institutional Forum, and Student Representative Council (SRC).
- Democratic Elected Representation on Council. Chaired by legal practitioner Adv. Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC, the Council serves as the highest governing authority. Incorporates elected stakeholder representatives across all internal and external constituencies: â–ª Students: Two elected members from the Student Representative Council (the Institutional SRC President and Secretary General). â–ª Academic Staff & Senate: Senate representatives including Executive Dean Prof. W.W. Chitha and Executive Dean Prof. B. Nguza-Mduba, plus an elected non-Senate academic staff representative. â–ª Non-Academic Staff: An elected non-academic staff representative drawn from technical personnel. â–ª Convocation & External Experts: Representatives elected by Convocation and Council appointees specialising in law, finance, and public policy.
- Recognised Independent Student Governance Student governance operates under the Walter Sisulu Student Representative Council (SRC) Constitution, ratified and approved by Council. Features a two-tier structure comprising the Institutional Student Representative Council (ISRC) (12 members) and four Campus Student Representative Councils (CSRCs) across constituent campuses. Elections are conducted annually via direct secret ballot supervised by an independent external Electoral Agency appointed under strict procurement guidelines. In April 2024, 42 newly elected student leaders took their oath of office during a formal inauguration attended by municipal and university executive leadership. Between 2024 and 2025, the university conducted a comprehensive review of student governance constitutions to maintain alignment with the 2024 Statute.
- Anti-Corruption, Whistleblowing & Ethical Standards Walter Sisulu enforces a binding Code of Ethics for Council Members and a general Code of Conduct Policy governing institutional integrity. Operates independent, toll-free Whistleblowing and Fraud Hotlines (0800 212 582 / 0800 200 796 / hotline@kpmg.co.za) managed externally by KPMG FairCall to report mismanagement, corrupt practices, or ethical breaches confidentially.
- Institutional Forum (IF) & Institutional Transformation. Read the story. Led by elected Chairperson Mr Sandiso Mbongo and Deputy Chairperson Prof. Thobeka Ncanywa, the statutory Institutional Forum advises Council on equity, dispute resolution, human rights, and senior leadership recruitment. Under the Mphekweni Mandate, the IF established the IFOREX Committee to drive cultural renewal and transformative leadership rooted in "Doing things the Xhamela way". The IF successfully proposed establishing an annual Walter Sisulu Day on May 18 (birth date of Tatu Walter Sisulu) as an institutional day of reflection, social justice, and unity.
Working with Government, Policy Advice & Public Dialogue
- Expert Advisory Support to Government The Head of the Built Environment Department at Walter Sisulu was appointed to the Public Works and Infrastructure Ministerial Review Panel, providing expert academic guidance to shape national infrastructure policy. Executive Dean Prof. W.W. Chitha serves as President of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), contributing to national health sector governance.
- Policy Collaboration & Regional Infrastructure Summits Walter Sisulu co-hosted the 1st CBE / Walter Sisulu International Construction Conference at Potsdam Site, hosting South Africa's Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Sihle Zikalala, to discuss public policy frameworks for climate-resilient infrastructure and disaster response.
- Neutral Platforms for Public Social Justice Dialogue The Society and Health Research Institute under the Public Health Department hosted a critical panel discussion on Human Rights, Justice, Freedom, and Equality. Provided a safe, inclusive space bringing together traditional leadership (Queen Thina Ndamase of Nyandeni), the South African Police Service (SAPS), religious leaders, LGBTQIA+ advocates, and social workers to address rural women's land rights, gender discrimination, and equal access to mental health services.
- International Civic & Youth Leadership Engagement. Student delegations represented Walter Sisulu at international forums, including strategic leadership exchanges at Mahatma Gandhi University in India and the International Youth Summit on Land and Economic Freedom (IYSOLEF 2025) in Zimbabwe.
Law Graduates, Human Rights Education & Civic Training
- Professional Legal & Public Administration Qualification Output. Walter Sisulu produces qualified legal practitioners and civil service professionals through its accredited LLB and BProc degree programs, directly supplying human capital to South African courts, legal practice, and government institutions.
- Robben Island Leadership & Constitutional Heritage Immersion. Following their inauguration, newly elected ISRC student leaders participated in an educational tour of Robben Island. Guided by former political prisoners, student leaders explored the historical prison cells of Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela, Govan Mbeki, and Robert Sobukwe to deepen their understanding of constitutional democracy, personal accountability, and ethical governance.
- Residence Constitutional Rights Awareness. The Residence Life and Co-Curricular Unit conducted interactive talk shows across student residences themed "My Right, My Responsibility in Pursuit of Excellence", engaging students on constitutional rights, civic duties, and democratic values
This account is drawn from the iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu Sustainability Impact Progress Report, prepared against the Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Ratings methodology.
The Sustainable Development Goals icons are United Nations marks, used here for information. The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States. Read the Sustainable Development Goals.
