Professor Deresh Ramjugernath, Stellenbosch University’s (SU) current Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Learning and Teaching, has been appointed its next Rector and Vice-Chancellor by the SU Council.
He will assume office on 1 April 2025, after Prof Wim de Villiers concluded his second and final five-year term as Rector and Vice-Chancellor on 31 March 2025. Ramjugernath will become SU’s 13th rector, although the title of this post has changed a number of times over the last 100 years. As Rector and Vice-Chancellor-designate, he will work closely with De Villiers until his retirement.
Ramjugernath was selected ahead of fellow shortlisted candidates SU Chief Operating Officer Prof Stanislaus “Stan” du Plessis and research Prof Reitumetse Obakeng Mabokela.
He is a seasoned and highly experienced higher-education leader with extensive senior-executive experience in the sector in South Africa.
Prior to his appointment at SU in January 2021 he was the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and pro-Vice-Chancellor for Innovation, Commercialisation and Entrepreneurship at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He also brings extensive board and governance experience, having served on several company and organisation boards.
Ramjugernath resides in Stellenbosch with his wife, an accomplished academic too, their three daughters and two dogs.
“I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the opportunity to serve and lead one of the top universities on the African continent,” he said. “I am immensely thankful to the SU Council for having the confidence in my vision to take the institution to the next tier in being a world-class research-intensive university that is in service to society.
“Stellenbosch is locally and globally respected and admired for its academic excellence, and I look forward to the period of close collaboration with Prof de Villiers before officially taking office in April next year and building on his tremendous tenure and achievements over the past decade.”
Ramjugernath’s appointment comes after a thorough local and international recruitment process, including presentations by and interviews of short-listed candidates at meetings of the SU Senior Appointments Committee, Senate and the Institutional Forum and Council.
“We are delighted with Prof Ramjugernath’s appointment and look forward to having him lead our special institution on the next stage of its journey,” said SU Council chairperson Nicky Newton-King, who also acknowledged the difficult task of appointing the new rector and vice-chancellor. “He is an excellent academic and seasoned administrator and Council has no doubt that he will be a worthy successor to Prof de Villiers.
“SU’s achievements attracted top candidates locally and internationally to apply. Kudos for this goes to Prof de Villiers, his rectorate team and the nearly 3 500 Stellenbosch academics and professional and administrative support staff who ensure that SU continues to attract top staff and students and deliver top research and student results. The council is most grateful for this.”
