Dr Sylvan Maleho Seane is regarded as an exceptional leader, who consistently demonstrated the capacity to guide and motivate others to excellence with proven commitment to serving the community and improving the lives of others. A family physician by profession, Dr Seane served the CUT council from 2003 to 2018, during which he also served as Chairperson of Council from 2010 to 2016. He made important contributions in his capacity as Chairperson of Council, and as a member and Chairperson of various standing committees of Council. Furthermore, he availed his skills and expertise to a host of other organisations throughout his career.

“I am honoured and excited about this award. My gratitude extends to the CUT Council for its guidance in policy making and ethics in governance that creates the ambience to procure essential support and office stewardship over, above and beyond the duty of their call. It is in people like Cllr Boysie Phehlukwayo who serve the council with a purpose that we find an affirmation to the adherence of individual and institutional objectives. This, in turn, delivers the programmes that we see here and our commitment to excellence is clear in the number of Cum Laude graduates. We come here and celebrate an institution that stands out to make sure that individuals within it come out as different people with different attributes and determination to make life different for all people outside.”

He said that the Senate and the Community of CUT are like an engine of a motor vehicle, who remain critical in the execution of the job that needs to be done daily which is, to impart knowledge, skills and competencies with the courage to create, innovate and inspire.

“I will forever be indebted to my family, more so to my lovely wife who allowed me time to avail myself for CUT’s calling and to CUT community. My spirit is indeed lifted, and there is joy and satisfaction of accomplishment. To the students, you may have struggled and met with repeated challenges and failures, but you persevered, and finally, you succeeded. What is critical is not how you entered but how you exit, and I think it’s honourable for all of us to make sure that our exits are honourable.”

Dr Sylvan Maleho Seane was born in Bloemfontein and matriculated from Moroka High School in Thaba ‘Nchu in 1971. He holds a BSc Degree from the University of Fort Hare; an MBChB degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal; and an MFamMed degree from the University of the Free State.

Dr Seane has owned a medical practice in Bloemfontein since 1983 and is currently employed as a senior lecturer and clinical supervisor of final-year medical students at the University of the Free State.

He is married to Ms Refiloe, and the couple has three children, Letshego, Kabelo and Boitumelo.

Images

1: Dr Sylvan Maleho Seane (right) receiving his Chancellor’s Excellence Award at the 2018 Spring Graduation ceremony. He is congratulated by Deputy Registrar, Dr Paks Tondi. Former CUT Chairperson of Council, Dr Seane, received the Chancellor’s Excellence Award in the category of Leadership and Community Involvement.

2: Dr Sylvan Maleho Seane (right) is seen here with Prof. Henk de Jager, Vice-Chancellor and Principal (left) and CUT Chancellor, Madam Justice Mahube Molemela (centre).