The University of Johannesburg (UJ) is pleased to announce that Dr Yondela Ndema has been duly elected as the Chair of Council, following the conclusion of Council’s prescribed governance processes.

Dr Ndema’s election reflects the confidence of Council in her strategic leadership and extensive governance experience. She is not new to the higher education sector, having served on the UJ Council since 2017, including as Vice Chairperson and Chair of several Council Committees. Her long-standing involvement with the University has provided her with a deep understanding of its strategic priorities, governance environment, and institutional culture, ensuring continuity and stability in Council leadership.

A highly accomplished executive with more than two decades of experience across the public and private sectors, Dr Ndema currently serves as Executive: Compliance and Ethics at Barloworld South Africa. In this role, she oversees group-wide ethics, compliance, and governance frameworks within a complex, listed multinational organisation. She previously held senior executive positions at Sasol, including Vice President roles responsible for compliance and ethics governance across multiple jurisdictions.

UJ Chair of Council, Dr Yondela Ndema

As a published author, Dr Ndema is widely recognised as a subject matter expert in governance, ethics, and regulatory compliance, and has served on numerous boards and board committees across listed companies and public entities. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Law, is an admitted Advocate of the High Court, and has contributed to scholarly work in the field of law, including recent publications on sexual harassment and employer liability in South Africa.

The University looks forward to Dr Ndema’s leadership as Chair of Council and is confident that her depth of experience, commitment to ethical leadership, and strong governance acumen will further strengthen Council’s oversight and support UJ’s long-term strategic objectives.