Mamokgethi Phakeng


Rosina Mamokgethi Phakeng is a South African professor of mathematics education who in 2018 became a vice-chancellor of the University of Cape Town, She has been the vice principal of research and innovation, at the University of South Africa and acting executive dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology at UNISA.
In 2018 she was an invited speaker at the International Congresses of Mathematicians.

Early life

Mmutlana was born in Eastwood, Pretoria, to Frank and Wendy Mmutlana. Her mother went back to school after having her three children to complete Form 3 as entry to gaining a Primary Teachers Certificate to practice as a teacher. Her father was one of the first black radio announcers at the South African Broadcasting Corporation.
Mmutlana started school in 1972 at Ikageleng Primary in 1972 in Marapyane village and then Ikageng Primary in Ga-Rankuwa. She attended Tsela-tshweu higher primary; Tswelelang Higher Primary; Thuto-Thebe Middle School; Odi High School and Hebron. She completed her matric with University Exemption in 1983 in the village of Hebron's College of Education.

Higher education

She achieved a BSc in pure mathematics at the University of North-West, and a MSc in mathematics education at the University of the Witwatersrand. In 2002 she became the first black female South African to obtain a PhD in mathematics education.

Career accomplishments

Mmutlana has won awards for excellence in service. These honors include:
She was married to Richard Setati for 19 years and they had one son, Tsholofelo who was born in 1990.
In 2012, she married Madimetja Lucky Phakeng, thereby adding the appendage "Phakeng" to her surname. Lucky Phakeng is an advocate currently heading the Takeover Regulation Panel.

Social responsibility

Adopt-A-Learner

In 2004, Kgethi founded the non-profit organization Adopt-A-Learner. It was created for the purpose of providing deserving lower-income learners with financial support.