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During the Community Engagement Award ceremony that took place on 26 November 2024 at the University’s Seme Hall, stakeholders that contributed to the success of the Community Engagement and Development (CEAD) projects were recognized. Professor Busisiwe Nkonki-Mandleni, CEAD Director, and Dr Anette Mienie, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement (RIE), recognized the following stakeholders for their “unwavering commitment to working with MUT in fulfilling its community engagement mandate”: eThekwini Municipality, Sivusisizwe B2M Africa Initiative, Azibuye Digital Technologies, Small Enterprise Development Agency, Moses Kotane Research Institute, DMZ Agricultural Academy, Ubhavu Social Outreach, Ikamva Youth Organization, Impilo Home, Vumengazi Tribal Authority, and Toyota South Africa. CEAD also acknowledged a contribution to the achievement of its goals by some of the University’s staff members. The CEAD also recognized various individuals from support and academic divisions  for their contributions to the success of its initiatives. These individuals were Dr Tholi Cele, and Nkosinathi

This is brilliant! This is how the Acting Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Dr Bheka Ntshangase responded to the presentations by MUT leadership to the visiting US delegation, and how the US delegation responded to the presentations. The delegation was led by Ms Dana Brown, US Deputy Chief of Mission, US Consulate General, Durban. Dr Ntshangase said he saw this visit as opening many doors for MUT. He said collaborating with US universities would give MUT a chance to introduce unique academic programme. Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director: Marketing and Communications, informed the US delegation of the solid relationship the University has with some US higher education institutions. “We have had a relationship with the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) for over two decades. Our Vice-Chancellor and Principal led a delegation to FAMU,” Mkhize said. The visit resulted in some positive spin-offs, one of which was MUT being given a chance to

The MUT Radio crew had a surprise visit by the US Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms Dana Brown and her colleagues from the US Consulate in Durban. The crew was very excited to be visited by the high-profile delegation and had a discussion with Ms Brown on their  job. “We don’t run out of content,” they said to Ms Brown  

As the grade 12 learners are embarking on their home stretch of their basic education journey – they are all busy writing their final year examinations – the University Schools outreach team from the Department of Marketing and Communications is still giving them support. Sthembile Maphumulo and Ayanda Bulose are visiting local malls where share post-matric enrolment information with grade 12 learners, some of whom would be straight from their examinations. The team has visited Megacity and KwaMnyandu malls and they have shared information with parents as well. Maphumulo said the main reason for the outreach was to ensure that the learners’ online application is done properly. “We are doing this at the malls to give a chance to all Umlazi Township schools and surrounding schools, a chance to have their applications done correctly. We also give career advice based on the results, before send the application in. These are

With Hollywood Bet, a sport betting company, MUT’s Student counselling hosted a Student with Disabilities Workshop on 18 October 2024 on campus. Lydia Chamane said the workshop aimed to empower students with different types of disabilities “on issues of life after they have obtained their qualifications”. The students were addressed by two former students, who both live with disabilities. Guest speaker Sthenjwa Khenisa, a graduate with visual impairment, “navigated the employability of graduates with disabilities in the workplace”. Khenisa emphasized the importance of acquiring soft skills while on campus “which at a later stage becomes a tool in the turbulent economy of South Africa”; Sabelo Sibisi shared his academic journey while he was on campus as well as experiences in the Engineering field. Chamane said that Sibisi “proudly stated that the lessons he learnt on campus placed him in better position in the workplace”. Sibisi has a deformed hand. There

The University’s efforts to inculcate the business spirit upon its students has taken a giant step forward. On 22 October 2024, an MUT Marketing final year student was given a key to her brand-new stall at Megacity. Sisanda Nkwanyana, owner of African Pride, a shop that specialises in selling Zulu and Xhosa attire, said her impressive business pitch to the Megacity management last year won her an opportunity to put up a stall at the mall. “In terms of the agreement, I won’t pay rent for the next 24 months. After that the agreement will be revised. The centre management will then ask me to pay rent based on how much I was able to generate so that my bottom line will not be affected,” said Sisanda. Sisanda thanks Ntombifuthi Mthembu, the Business Coordinator and Lecturer in the Department of Human Resources and Management, and the rest of the MUT

On October 17, 2024, Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) hosted a captivating Science Film Festival screening. This was a collaborative effort between MUT’s Institutional Advancement (IA), the UKZN Centre for Creative Arts, and the Goethe-Institut. The event, held on North Campus, attracted the Nature Conservation Project Management class, immersing them in an exciting fusion of science and storytelling. Dr Connie Israel, Executive Director, Institutional Advancement (IA), said this was not just an ordinary film screening. “The selected films presented innovative ways of addressing environmental issues, blending the rigour of science with the evocative power of cinema. The session highlighted how creative expressions can advance our understanding of pressing ecological challenges, offering fresh perspectives on conservation efforts,” said Dr Israel. Project manager from IA, Zinhle Mbili said that the active involvement of the Director: Centre for Algae Technology (CAB), Professor Akash Anandraj, and Lecturer in the Department of Nature Conservation, Refiloe

The Student Affairs Department continues to be rolling out its plan to empower student leadership. On the fourth day of a week-long programme, the 2024-2025 SRC benefited from various MUT divisions that informed them what they are doing, and what the SRC can get from them. This is what Dr Mthoko Ntuli, Student Development Officer, said was the necessary collaboration between the SRC and the divisions so the SRC would know what the divisions are doing, and how the SRC could work with the divisions to serve the students better. Guided by a theme – “Shaping the future generation of leaders”, staff from the different divisions went to town, telling the student leadership that they do.  Finance, Institutional Planning and Research (DIPR), Transport and Institutional Advancement (IA), all participated. The student leaders got a chance to air their views on what was presented. Most of them pointed at areas that

MUT Karate team did very well in the KwaZulu-Natal provincial Karate Tournament at Nkanini Indoor Sport Complex, Mthwalume, south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. Sawela Khwela, a Civil Engineering student with a brown belt, came first in the Ladies U55kg. Yellow belt Andiswa Chamane, a Marketing student, also came first in the Ladies U65kg. Third year IT student, Mthobisi Ntombela, placed second in the Men’s U60kg. Ntombela has a green belt. Alwande Mbokazi, a Mechanical Engineering student with a yellow belt, came third in the Men Open division. The tournament was hosted by the UGU District.

Only two weeks before one of the terms of reference for the Administrator, Professor Lourens van Staden, to facilitate the appointment of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University, is fulfilled. On 26 July 2024, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya was announced as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University. On 1 August 2024, Professor Sibiya officially began her tenure as the leader of the Institution. On 1 November 2024, Professor Sibiya will be installed as the Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University at the University’s iconic Dr Pixley kaSeme Hall. For several reasons, the installation of Professor Sibiya has been described as a “landmark” event. Professor Sibiya is the first woman Vice-Chancellor and principal in 45 years of the university’s existence. Also, Professor Sibiya was born in Umlazi Township, where the University is located. During the 2024 Women’s Day event, Professor Sibiya appealed to staff to work with her in sorting