From small beginnings
comes greatness
A short history of our new Vice Chancellor
Annette Willemse
P
rof Dan Kgwadi likes to try
out new things and is never biased.
These were the words of Ofentse,
the 16-year-old daughter of Prof Dan
and his wife Mabel, when, the day
before his interview for the position
of vice chancellor, Prof Dan asked
her advice on what she thought his
positive qualities are.
These qualities stand him in good
stead as vice chancellor of the
North-West University from 1 April
2014.
and received bursaries for further
study.
At the former University of
Bophuthatswana he could pursue
his love for physics and before long
he obtained the first of four degrees.
After his undergraduate studies,
he obtained his master’s degree in
physics from Ball State University in
the United States.
After receiving his PhD in physics
from the PU for CHE, he obtained
his second master’s degree, this
time in environmental law and
New things welcome
Firstly, it is good that he likes new
things, because there are plenty
of those. For instance, prior to his
appointment, he was the rector
and “father” of only one campus,
Mafikeng, but now that he has been
appointed as vice-chancellor, he is
the father of many.
Meisie’s bright child did not disappoint. He was head boy of his school
to sign his own certificate.
In 2010, Prof Dan received an
honorary doctorate from Hanseo
University in Korea.
A place in the sun for everyone
The second characteristic that
impressed Ofentse – that her father
is not biased – is definitely also a
big plus.“We may have different
religions, cultures and races, but we
are all South Africans,” says Prof
Dan. Unity in diversity is very important to him. “The university makes
provision for other belief systems for
diversity. However, I am a Christian
in my heart – it is my religious home.
Don’t fear change
Prof Dan is sensitive to people’s
fear of change, especially surrounding the universit