Students have not always voted for working rectors; anti-apartheid activists
Winnie Mandela (1987–1990) and
Albert Lutuli (1962–1965) were elected on the understanding that they would be unable to undertake the position's responsibilities, while
Mordechai Vanunu (2005–2008) was unable to fulfil his duties as he was not allowed to leave
Israel and
Edward Snowden (2014–2017) was not expected to fulfill his duties due to an ongoing self-imposed exile in Russia. However, other recent Rectors have been elected on the presumption they will be working rectors, e.g.
Ross Kemp (1999–2000), who resigned from the post after the
Students' Representative Council voted to request his resignation, such was the extent of student dissatisfaction with his performance. At the Rectorial election in February 2004, no nominations for the post of rector had been received. Upon the end of Greg Hemphill's term, the university was left without a rector for the first time in the position's history. The
University Senate set another election date for December, when Mordechai Vanunu was elected. The post was left vacant for a second time at the end of Aamer Anwar's term in March 2020, with the scheduled Rectorial election postponed until March 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The previous rector was
Lady Rita Rae, who was the first woman to hold the position in a standing capacity in the University's history. However, during her term she faced heavy criticism from the student body due to her alleged absenteeism, which she denied. == Nations ==