Prof Buitendag studied at the University of Pretoria, Friedrich Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and the Rand Afrikaans University. His thesis was the first in South Africa on the theme of creation and ecology (1985). He has lectured since 1989 part-time in Systematic Theology at the University of Pretoria and as a full-time associate professor since 2001. He became a full professor in 2004 and Head of the Department of Dogmatics and Christian Ethics in 2008. In 2004 he was appointed as Deputy Dean and in 2010 as Dean. He authored or co-authored more than 40 accredited articles in scientific journals and co-authored 12 chapters in books (5 international). Several Masters and Doctoral student finished their degrees under his supervision.

In the past four years Prof Buitendag has managed the Faculty of Theology with distinction. He positioned the Faculty successfully among other Faculties of Theology in South Africa. Furthermore, he has also built a network of academic relationships internationally.