Report by Sello Lentsoane

The University of South Africa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) has achieved a groundbreaking milestone under the transformative leadership of its Executive Dean and CEO, Professor Pumela Msweli. Recently, the institution celebrated its first-ever international accreditation from the Business Graduates Association (BGA), a globally recognized recognition that places SBL among the top 200 business schools worldwide.

This achievement marks a defining moment in the school’s 60-year history, reflecting its unwavering commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and Africa’s economic advancement. 

For Professor Msweli, a trailblazing academic leader, this milestone signifies the culmination of more than three decades of dedication to education and leadership. “Being an executive dean of a 60-year-old business school - one of the very first in South Africa - means everything to me,” she said. “It is the result of years of perseverance, community effort, and a relentless drive to elevate African business education to international standards.”

The path to accreditation was not without challenges; UNISA SBL had previously attempted accreditation in 2001 and 2008 before finally achieving success in 2025. This recognition now authenticates the quality and relevance of its programs, providing students, faculty, and stakeholders.

In addition to her groundbreaking leadership at the University of South Africa’s Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL), Professor Pumla Msweli is making significant strides in shaping Africa’s economic discourse. She recently co-authored and launched a powerful book titled: "Will AfCFTA Unleash Africa’s Potential?” This publication facilitated by the UNISA SBL, explores the transformative possibilities of intra-Africa trade and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), emphasizing the importance of regional integration for sustainable growth.

The book offers an in-depth analysis of Africa’s trade challenges and opportunities, addressing the obstacles that prevent the continent from fully leveraging its economic potential. It highlights that while the borders have been removed physically, implementation issues and deep-seated divisions remain significant hurdles to realizing the benefits of intra-Africa trade.

Professor Msweli’s insights underscore the urgency of unity and understanding in Africa’s economic journey: "For the longest time, we spoke about integrating Africa. Now, the borders have been removed, but there are still implementation issues," she says."The reason why Africa is not trading with each other is that it is incredibly difficult to integrate Africa when it has been deliberately divided - rule, and create conflict. These divisions make trading and regional cooperation difficult”, She added. 

As of 2023, Africa's total trade volume accounts for approximately 3.5% of global trade, significantly lower than Asia's 41%, highlighting the substantial disparity in trade engagement across continents.