17 Facts About Mamokgethi Phakeng

Mamokgethi Phakeng has been the vice principal of research and innovation, at the University of South Africa and acting executive dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at UNISA.

Mamokgethi Phakeng was succeeded by Professor Daya Reddy on 13 March 2023.

Mamokgethi Phakeng's 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.

Mamokgethi Phakeng's father was one of the first black radio announcers at the South African Broadcasting Corporation.

Mamokgethi Phakeng started school in 1972 at Ikageleng Primary in Marapyane village and then Ikageng Primary in Ga-Rankuwa.

Mamokgethi Phakeng attended Tsela-tshweu higher primary; Tswelelang Higher Primary; Thuto-Thebe Middle School; Odi High School and Hebron.

Mamokgethi Phakeng completed her matric with University Exemption in 1983 in the village of Hebron's College of Education.

In September 2022, Mamokgethi 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.

Mamokgethi Phakeng was married to Richard Setati for 19 years and they had one son, Tsholofelo who was born in 1990.

In 2012, she married Madimetja Lucky Mamokgethi Phakeng, thereby adding the appendage "Mamokgethi Phakeng" to her surname.

Lucky Mamokgethi Phakeng is an advocate currently heading the Takeover Regulation Panel.

On 22 February 2023 it was reported by News24 that Mamokgethi Phakeng would take early retirement from her position as vice-chancellor of UCT following the appointment of an independent panel to investigate allegations of mismanagement and abuse of power.

Mamokgethi Phakeng was paid R12 million for the leaving before her contract expired in 2028 whilst an investigation into allegations of mismanagement and abuse of power was conducted by an independent panel of retired judges.

The ombud and the university's former deputy council chair accused Mamokgethi Phakeng of covering up accusations and findings against her whilst the university's former deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning accused her of having deliberately misled university's Senate.

Mamokgethi Phakeng's supporters, including the Economic Freedom Fighters, alleged that she was being targeted by groups resistant to racial transformation of the university.

The probe was initiated amid the extension of Vice-Chancellor Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng's term, highlighting concerns over executive committee stability and unexplained senior resignations.

The Council revised the investigation's scope following VC Mamokgethi Phakeng's agreed exit, broadening the inquiry to address broader governance failures and their impact on executive resignations from January 2018 to December 2022, with a view towards recommending future preventive strategies.