During his engaging campus tour, Dr Joe Molete was warmly welcomed by the campus community. He took the time to visit the campus facilities, warmly greeting staff members and students. He also made a point to tour the student residences, where he met with Residence Managers and House Committee members. The atmosphere was one of welcome and anticipation, as everyone looked forward to the new era under Dr Molete's leadership. Pictured above left are Dr Clifford Nxomani, Ms Gloria Pule and Dr Joe Molete.

Dr Joe Molete's appointment as the new Campus Director is a significant strategic step in the campus' expansion plan. His leadership is expected to bring a renewed sense of direction and purpose, fostering a dynamic and thriving academic environment. He will focus on enhancing research capabilities, fostering industry partnerships, and promoting student innovation.

From Left: Dr Joe Molete and Dr Solomon Makola at one of the laboratories. 

The Campus Principal was welcomed by the campus management, who took him on tour to meet and greet staff members and student leaders and see the campus facilities, including the new state-of-the-art research centre and the upcoming student innovation hub. The former Campus Director, Prof. Solomon Makola, also spent the day with him, doing the official handover.

Dr Molete also visited the student residences and met with Residence Managers and House Committee members, from left: Dr Nxomani Clifford, Special Advisor in the office of the Vice-Chancellor; Tumelo Makubu, House Committee Member; and Dr Joe Molete, new Campus Principal.

During his tour, the Faculty of Management staff met and presented him with the Peace Lilly plant, a symbol of harmony and growth, to wish him well in his new role and to signify their commitment to working together towards a thriving campus community.

Dr Molete's impressive career spans over fifteen years in the research and technology commercialisation environment, a decade in the academic sector, and many years at the executive level. His track record is a testament to his capabilities, having held esteemed positions such as Executive Director at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research/ CSIR Biosciences, Chief Executive Officer at BioPAD, and Portfolio Manager at Cape Biotech Trust (CBT). His wealth of experience, including his role in leading groundbreaking research projects and his contributions to commercialising scientific innovations, is a strong foundation for his new role as Campus Principal, instilling confidence in his leadership. 

Dr. Molete's academic career is marked by significant achievements. He served as the Executive Director of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) Science and Technology Park, leading initiatives to bridge the gap between academia and industry. He also held the position of Campus Director of Midlands Campuses, Durban University of Technology (DUT), where he spearheaded efforts to enhance the student experience and academic quality.

His qualifications include a B.Sc. Life Sciences and B.Sc. (Honours) in Biochemistry from the University of the Witwatersrand. He also has an M.S. in Biology from Howard University, Washington D.C., USA, and a PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA. Dr Molete has also obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Cape Town and an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) from Harvard Business School, Boston, USA.