University of Johannesburg Creates Ombuds Office

The large, public university in South Africa has appointed Mavuso Msimang to serve as its first Ombudsman.  The new Ombuds Office serves "students, employees, alumni or members of public can raise academic or administrative concerns." (UJ is huge: it encompases nine faculties in more than 90 departments, with an enrollment of about 48,000 students, spreading over four different campuses.) A new website shows terms of reference that are in line with IOA standards.

Msimang has over 26 years of Public Sector executive management experience. For 16 years after the institution of democracy in South Africa he led, as CEO, the transformation of several state-owned organisations including South African Tourism, Tourism KZN, SANparks, and the State Information Technology Agency . He served for four years as Director-General of the Department of Home Affairs as Director-General. Msimang graduated from the University of Zambia and earned an MBA from the United States International University in San Diego, California.  (UJ Ombuds; UCT "The Ombud," vol 2, issue 1.)