Inside the systemic targeting of VC LenkaBula lies a complex web of institutional politics, gender dynamics, and entrenched resistance to transformation at one of Africa’s largest universities—the University of South Africa (Unisa). Professor Puleng LenkaBula, the first woman to serve as Unisa’s Vice-Chancellor since its establishment in 1873, has found herself at the center of a deepening crisis. What began as a hopeful chapter of reform and renewal under her leadership has increasingly turned into a battle for institutional survival against forces resistant to her agenda.
From the onset of her appointment in 2021, Professor LenkaBula was seen as a trailblazer. Her vision emphasized accountability, ethical leadership, financial transparency, and the restoration of Unisa’s academic credibility. However, as this article explores, inside the systemic targeting of VC LenkaBula is a pattern of coordinated opposition—rooted in the university’s longstanding culture of factionalism, union politics, and competing economic interests. These elements have created a hostile environment for any leader seeking to clean up inefficiency and corruption.
A Legacy of Institutional Instability
Unisa’s governance challenges did not start with LenkaBula. The institution has for decades been plagued by internal divisions, weak financial controls, and political interference. Yet, her attempts to address these inherited issues appear to have intensified resistance from those benefiting from the status quo. Critics within the system—some aligned with powerful unions and administrative elites—have accused her of authoritarian management and divisive leadership. Supporters, however, see these accusations as part of a calculated campaign to delegitimize and remove her before meaningful change takes root.
Patterns of Systemic Targeting
Examining the systemic targeting of VC LenkaBula reveals several recurring patterns. First, there has been a consistent media narrative portraying her as embattled and controversial—often based on selective leaks from within the institution. Second, multiple investigations and oversight reports have surfaced, some questioning her leadership, while others acknowledge the complex internal sabotage she faces. Third, the weaponization of administrative processes, including audits and internal reviews, has been a hallmark of how dissenting networks attempt to undermine her credibility.
The most telling aspect of this systemic targeting lies in how institutional mechanisms are mobilized not to foster accountability but to weaken reformist leadership. The overlap of bureaucratic resistance, political alliances, and media influence has made it nearly impossible for LenkaBula to govern without controversy.
Gender and Power in Academia
At the heart of the systemic targeting of VC LenkaBula also lies a gendered dimension. As a woman leading a major African university, her assertiveness and reform-driven style have been interpreted through a gender-biased lens. Where male predecessors were tolerated for decisive governance, LenkaBula has often been labeled as “combative” or “dictatorial.” This double standard underscores how gender politics shape perceptions of leadership in higher education.
Her tenure represents not only a struggle for institutional reform but also a symbolic battle against patriarchal structures that have long defined university leadership. The systemic targeting she faces, therefore, cannot be separated from broader societal resistance to women occupying spaces of power with authority and vision.
The Role of Oversight and Political Interests
Government oversight bodies, such as the Minister of Higher Education and the Council of Unisa, have played significant roles in shaping the narrative around LenkaBula’s leadership. Reports citing governance failures and administrative irregularities have been used both as legitimate tools of accountability and as political weapons. The question that emerges is whether these interventions aim to protect institutional integrity—or to weaken a leader unwilling to bow to entrenched interests.
A Broader Reflection on Transformation and Resistance
Looking inside the systemic targeting of VC LenkaBula offers a revealing case study of how transformation in public institutions can be derailed by deep-rooted internal networks. It shows how systems resistant to accountability often deploy bureaucratic mechanisms and public narratives to preserve themselves. LenkaBula’s experience illustrates the broader challenge facing many African reformers—how to lead ethically and effectively in environments where corruption, politics, and inertia converge.
Conclusion
The systemic targeting of VC LenkaBula is not merely a personal or administrative struggle; it represents a deeper contest over the soul of a national institution. Her leadership has exposed the fault lines between progress and preservation, reform and resistance. Whether she survives this battle or not, the questions her tenure raises about institutional governance, gender bias, and the price of integrity will remain central to the discourse on African higher education reform.
