Professor Puleng Lenkabula, the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa), will speak at the United Nations headquarters in New York this week. Her address will focus on the role of higher education institutions in developing collaborative, locally managed solutions for achieving sustainable urban development.
As urban inequalities deepen and global climate pressure intensifies, Professor Puleng Lenkabula will make a significant contribution to the field of sustainable urban development at the UN venue. Alongside other authoritative international leaders, she will bring an important perspective from higher education to the discussion on local actions that contribute to global progress.
Dr. Genevieve James, Deputy Director for Engaged Research at Unisa, reported that Professor Lenkabula will speak at a special event by the UN Local2030 Coalition during the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on sustainable development at the UN headquarters in New York. Her presentation, titled 'Advancing SDG 11 and the New Urban Agenda: Local Actions for Global Acceleration,' will take place at a critical moment coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the New Urban Agenda at the Third Housing Conference in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016. This milestone has renewed attention to the issues and opportunities shaping the trajectory of sustainable urbanization.
Dr. James emphasized that these discussions are rooted in Sustainable Development Goal 11, which aims to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. Experts are increasingly viewing SDG 11 not just as one of 17 goals, but as a crucial element for achieving broader 2030 Agenda objectives. Policymakers stress that the urban environment is not only an indicator of global development success or failure but is fundamental to solving key issues such as access to adequate housing, basic services, and climate resilience.
In her presentation, Professor Lenkabula will highlight the indispensable role universities play in driving urban development. As a champion of engaged research and social transformation, she will demonstrate how higher education institutions act as a bridge between development data, knowledge, and practical application. Her findings reflect Unisa's commitment to creating collaborative ecosystems that overcome traditional institutional barriers by uniting various stakeholders—urban development theorists, government agencies, industry leaders, and civil society—to jointly solve complex urban problems.
Dr. James added that, recognizing the need for sustainable solutions to emerge from the realities of local communities, Professor Lenkabula will advocate for approaches that involve local territories as co-creators of knowledge and innovation in development, rather than merely as beneficiaries of global initiatives. The event will also serve as a platform to showcase progress made in development driven by local initiatives, where SDG 11 will be central alongside goals related to clean water, accessible energy, and global partnership.
Lenkabula's presence at the UN is not only a significant achievement for Unisa but also reflects the growing status of African universities in global development discussions. It demonstrates how institutions like Unisa, through their commitment to social, economic, and environmental progress, are changing the narrative and providing intellectual leadership on pressing issues affecting communities worldwide.
As world leaders gather to assess their path toward the ambitious 2030 Agenda, Professor Lenkabula's message is clear: achieving sustainable cities requires collective effort, utilizing the diverse strengths of government, academia, industry, civil society, and citizens. In a decade marked by growing urban challenges, she serves as a stark reminder that long-term solutions arise from joint efforts to build a more equitable, sustainable, and viable future for all.
During a recent visit to the University of South Africa (Unisa), Deputy Minister of Higher Education Yusuf Kassim emphasized the urgent need for renewed collaboration between funding bodies and higher education institutions to alleviate growing financial pressure in the sector.
This oversight visit was initiated due to student concerns regarding the timely disbursement of funds from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). This reinforced calls for open dialogue instead of mutual accusations. Kassim stated that they arrived to listen to and address the issues raised by students through existing institutional channels, viewing this interaction as an important step toward transparent communication and developing effective solutions.
Unisa's Chief Financial Officer, Liana Jobert, presented information on the university's financial challenges. She reported a projected deficit of 106 million rand for 2025. This followed the university paying out 907 million rand to ensure timely student access to learning materials, having received only 733 million rand in funding earlier this year. Jobert insisted on the need for 'in-depth study in audit committees' and a critical reassessment of funding policies.
Jobert pointed out a significant policy gap between the funding for distance learning and traditional contact universities. She noted that Unisa students receive an average stipend of 9,000 rand, which sharply contrasts with the 48,000 rand provided to students attending conventional universities. According to her, the average per-student stipend of 316 rand is insufficient compared to other social support benchmarks. Rather than blaming NSFAS, Jobert stressed the importance of cooperation: 'We are interested in close engagement with them to synchronize payments. We can only disburse funds after receiving them.'
Expressing gratitude for the constructive relationship between the University Students' Representative Council and management, she cited this example of cooperation as a positive model of how stakeholder interaction can yield positive results, allowing students to register for additional modules even with funding delays. Jobert strongly urged the Department of Higher Education and Training to conduct a comprehensive cost analysis reflecting the national shift to distance learning to align funding models with current modes of study.
An NSFAS representative acknowledged that the financial pressure at Unisa is not unique, confirming the necessity of continuous engagement with various stakeholders, including student unions and the Treasury, to secure additional financial support. He noted that their priority was ensuring student support. To maintain momentum in resolving these issues, Kassim handed the acting Vice-Chancellor Matabo Nkgene-Mgingi a folder containing approximately 100 student complaints collected through the ministry's helpline. These complaints concerned issues such as delays in personal allowance payments and delays in scholarship distribution. This was presented not as a reproach, but as a constructive step toward transforming common problems into coordinated action in collaboration with NSFAS and university management.
