Academic Qualifications:
Dr Abbey Mathekga holds a PhD in Education Management and Policy Studies, an MPhil in Education for Community Development, and a Bachelor of Education in Education Technology from the University of Pretoria. Additionally, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education from the erstwhile University of Bophuthatswana, now North-West University, a Certificate in Human Resources Management from UNISA, and a University Diploma in Education (Secondary) from Hebron College of Education. He completed his Senior Certificate with exemption at Hendrick Makapan High School.
Work experience and positions held:
Dr. Mathekga was appointed as the Director of the Department of Enrolment and Student Administration (DESA) at the University of Pretoria from 1 July 2022. In this role, he oversees four key divisions: Student Recruitment and Admissions, Student Administration, Student Support Services, and Student Systems. These divisions collectively manage the entire student life cycle, from recruitment through to graduation and beyond. The Director provides strategic leadership within the department, aligning their initiatives with the University’s commitment to fostering access and success for all students. The Director also ensures that the Recruitment and Admission division implements a comprehensive recruitment strategy aimed at ensuring a diverse student demographic, thereby striving to include a wide array of student groups, including international students.
Dr Mathekga was appointed as the Deputy Director of Student Administration within DESA from 1 March 2015. He was responsible for developing and implementing strategic leadership within the division to achieve the goals aligned with DESA’s vision. This role involved supporting student administration across various faculties, including the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). Dr Mathekga ensured the smooth execution of graduation ceremonies by facilitating effective communication among all stakeholders involved and monitoring the quality of graduation certificates. The highlight was the successful organising of the graduation ceremony for the Nelson Mandela–Fidel Castro Medical Training programme within a month, with 600 graduates coming from the length and breadth of South Africa. Additionally, he provided strategic leadership in the administration of the student life cycle, encompassing recruitment, application, admission, registration, graduation, and alumni relations. He also oversaw the management of student records, including maintaining accurate student mark records.
Before joining the University of Pretoria, Dr Mathekga was a Senior Manager at the erstwhile Higher Education South Africa and now Universities South Africa. As a Senior Manager from 1 February 2005. His responsibilities included strategic leadership and management of the Higher Education Enrolment Programme and the Matriculation Board.
He oversaw the internal processes of the Higher Education Enrolment Programme unit and developed value-adding, cost-effective services to support and enhance the sector and its member institutions. Managed both human and budgetary resources to ensure the effective implementation and delivery of services. He ensured compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and adhered to cooperative governance in accordance with the King IV report. He supervised contracts with service providers and managed the IT and website for the Matriculation Board. He also provided secretariat and coordination functions for both the Admissions Committee and the Matriculation Board.
Dr Mathekga served as a Regional Council member for the International Baccalaureate Organization for Africa, the Middle East and Europe from 2012 to 2015. Since 2016, he has been a council member of the Independent Examination Board (IEB), and from 2022 to 2023, he also served on the council for St. Alban’s College. Additionally, he established a strong link with the Cambridge International Examination (CIE) and collaborated with various ministries of education across Africa and Europe. Locally, his involvement extended to multiple committees, including the IEB, South African Quality Assurance, Umalusi, and the National Examination and Assessment Committee of the Department of Basic Education. In 2023, he was appointed the University of South Africa’s Admissions Committee member.
Dr. Mathekga served as a part-time lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Pretoria. He began his career as a teacher and advanced through various roles, ultimately becoming the Subject Advisor at the North West Department of Education.