The leadership of Professor Puleng LenkaBula, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of South Africa (Unisa), has sparked widespread debate within higher education and governance circles. As the first woman to occupy this position at the continent’s largest open-distance learning institution, her tenure was always going to be historically significant. Yet, the path has not been without obstacles. A set of inherited challenges—rooted in institutional history, political dynamics, and structural weaknesses—has come to define what many call the “heritage hurdles” facing her administration.

Unisa’s Historical Burden

Unisa’s role as a pioneer in distance education made it a beacon of opportunity for students across South Africa and beyond. However, decades of expansion also created deep institutional cracks. Administrative inefficiencies, entrenched bureaucracy, and an uneven culture of accountability became part of the university’s legacy. When Puleng LenkaBula assumed leadership, she inherited these burdens along with the responsibility of modernizing a system that was simultaneously respected and riddled with dysfunction.

This historical inheritance is not just about operations. It is also about the university’s identity: how it negotiates its role as a national asset, a continental leader in education, and a battleground for political and ideological influence.

The Weight of Transformation

Transformation remains one of the most contentious issues in South Africa’s higher education landscape. For Unisa, transformation involves not only addressing inequalities within staff demographics and student representation but also confronting the very culture of the institution. Professor LenkaBula has been tasked with balancing a commitment to inclusivity and transformation with the practical need to maintain global competitiveness.

Her critics argue that change under her leadership has been uneven, while her supporters maintain that she has had to work against a resistant institutional culture and entrenched interests. The transformation debate, therefore, represents a heritage hurdle—an unavoidable legacy of South Africa’s broader socio-political history.

Governance and Power Struggles

Another major hurdle is governance. Unisa has historically been marked by factional battles, power plays, and political interference. Boards, councils, and unions often clash over issues of authority and accountability, and these dynamics have frequently undermined coherent leadership.

For Professor LenkaBula, navigating this environment has been one of her greatest challenges. Efforts to assert her authority and institute reforms have been met with resistance, sometimes manifesting as public controversies or allegations aimed at discrediting her leadership. In this sense, the heritage hurdle is not only about the structural governance of Unisa but also about entrenched cultures of contestation that resist decisive leadership.

Gendered Expectations and Leadership Scrutiny

As the first woman Vice-Chancellor of Unisa, Puleng LenkaBula faces another unique dimension of heritage hurdles: gendered expectations. While her appointment was celebrated as a breakthrough for women in academia, the scrutiny she has faced has often been harsher than her male predecessors endured. The cultural heritage of patriarchy within South African institutions means that women in leadership are more likely to be subjected to double standards, criticism, and even character attacks.

Her situation illustrates how institutional inheritance is not only structural but also cultural, reflecting broader societal dynamics that women in leadership continue to grapple with.

Financial Pressures and Institutional Sustainability

Unisa’s massive student body—often exceeding 300,000—creates both opportunities and financial challenges. While the institution provides access to education at an unmatched scale, its funding model, student debt levels, and the cost of digital transformation place immense strain on sustainability.

LenkaBula inherited a financial model that was already under stress, exacerbated by declining government subsidies and the rising costs of technology-driven learning. Balancing affordability for students with sustainability for the institution remains a central heritage hurdle.

Looking Forward: Can Heritage Be Turned into Strength?

The phrase “Heritage Hurdles for Puleng LenkaBula” captures more than just the obstacles of history—it reflects the challenge of leading an institution that must transform while remaining true to its mission. The question is whether heritage can be reframed from a burden into a foundation for renewal.

Her leadership, despite criticisms, has initiated conversations about accountability, inclusivity, and sustainability. Whether she succeeds or falters, her tenure will remain a critical moment in Unisa’s journey—a reminder that leadership in South Africa’s universities is always intertwined with inherited complexities.

Conclusion

Heritage hurdles are not unique to Puleng LenkaBula, but her experience highlights the magnitude of challenges faced by leaders of institutions with deep historical legacies. For Unisa, these hurdles are a test of whether the past will continue to weigh down progress or serve as a guide for transformation. For Professor LenkaBula, the challenge lies in navigating an inheritance that is as much about history as it is about the future.