News

The IT&N team has outdone themselves, ensuring that Eduroam is now the gold standard for connectivity for all MUT travelers. Those who have faced Eduroam hurdles may now rejoice! Thanks to the tireless efforts of Dr Marlo de Swardt, Senior Director: IT&N, and Njabulo Xaba, Workshop Technician in the department, the hurdles are now a thing of the past. “I am genuinely humbled, Dr de Swardt, for the relentless dedication you have shown to this project,” expressed Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, the University Vice-Chancellor and Principal. “From this moment forward, no MUT traveler will ever find themselves disconnected. This has been particularly crucial for me during my whirlwind of statutory meetings.” Dr de Swardt has made a bold pledge: all travelers should notify IT&N before embarking on their international travel. “With Eduroam, it is as simple as stepping into any participating institution and logging on with your home credentials. No more

Dr Xolile Ngubane, Senior Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, has taken on the challenging yet vital role of leading the transformation agenda at MUT with great passion. Understanding that universities are intricate ecosystems, Dr Ngubane convened an inaugural discussion with Professor Marcus Ramogale, the DVC for Teaching and Learning, providing a keynote address on the MUT Transformation agenda alongside the MUT deans and strategic offices. This collaborative effort aimed to gather insights on the existing transformation initiatives at MUT. During the meetings at which the South African Human Rights Commission (SARHC) members also made presentations, Dr Ngubane discovered that various faculties, departments, and dedicated individuals had been undertaking remarkable work in isolation—implementing inclusion programmes, decolonising the curriculum, advocating for student well-being, and mentoring women into leadership positions. It became clear that these efforts had not yet been woven into a cohesive, unified agenda. Recognising the tremendous

On Thursday, 4 September, it was an ordinary afternoon in the office of Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) — until her phone rang with an unexpected international call, flashing a US dial code (850), Tallahassee, Florida. “Mbali, this is Dr Victor Ibeanusi. I have settled well from my Hungary trip. I had to call you personally.” Dr Ibeanusi, a globally respected environmental scientist and Executive Dean of the School of the Environment at Florida A&M University, had just come back from attending the prestigious EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit held in Budapest, Hungary’s capital city. Dr Ibeanusi founded the EnergyWaterFoodClimate Nexus Summit more than a decade ago. Yet, instead of settling back into his schedule, his first order of business was a heartfelt call, not to discuss logistics or partnerships, but to recognise excellence. “Your institution, MUT, made a lasting impression at the

At a prestigious handover event on 18 August 2025, at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, MUT accepted a cheque for R100 000 for a cancer screening project from the Zodwa Zungu Foundation. We acknowledge with deep appreciation the generous pledge of R100,000 made by the MUT Chancellor, Sandile Zungu, during our 2024 Annual Fundraising Dinner, to make this initiative possible. In commemoration of the late Zodwa Zungu, the event was imbued deeply with a sense of gratitude and remembrance, but also, as the Chancellor stated, of action. The Foundation focuses on education, economic sustainability and Healthcare. “The need for extra diligence in raising awareness around breast and cervical cancer, has dominated our platforms, screens and plans. The breast and cervical cancer screening initiatives proposed at Mangosuthu University of Technology, are therefore timely. Breast and cervical cancers remain two of the most prevalent and preventable forms of cancer among women globally. In South

If tradition is anything to go by, close to 200 delegates are expected to attend the annual Empowered Administrators Conference that will be at Elangeni Hotel, Durban, from 18-19 September 2025. To date, 170 office administrators have registered for the conference, with 85 having already paid the conference fee. Fifty-six of these are attending the EAC for the first time.  One of the delegates will be Sushi Moodley, Personal Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor, at the Durban University of Technology (DUT). Moodley, a returning delegate, who described the event as a “must attend”, has given her assurance that she will attend. Absolutely, I am attending the annual conference. It is a highlight of the year for me. I shared my payment details, etc, yesterday,” Moodley said. Moodley is one of the 32 delegates from DUT, the largest number from a single organisation. Second, after the DUT, Stellenbosch University is sending 16

When Thembela Makhoba, a Civil Engineering Technologist at eThekwini Municipality and a member of MUT’s Convocation Executive Committee (Convex), donated R30,000 to his alma mater, it was not just a financial gesture; it was a declaration of loyalty, gratitude, and a vision for the Institution that shaped him. “I see this contribution as more than just financial support,” Makhoba said. “It aligns with the Convex’s mission of fostering a strong and active alumni community that gives back meaningfully to MUT.” In his professional life, Makhoba’s work is all about building resilient and inclusive communities; from planning and implementing water and sanitation projects, to promoting good governance in public service. This same spirit of service guides his commitment to MUT, as he works to ensure the University remains a hub of opportunity for future generations. For Makhoba, alumni giving is both an act of gratitude and a responsibility. He recognises MUT’s

The Deputy Director: Intellectual Property, at the University’s Research directorate, Dr Mandla Hlongwane, has said they have reached out to the South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) for general knowledge sharing, to learn more about the organisation’s offerings when it comes to providing support for institutions that host both local and international conferences. SANCB is a division of South African Tourism, which is mandated to position South Africa as a business events destination. The SANCB provides “comprehensive support and “unbiased advise for planning events, including bidding support, site inspection, venue sourcing, convention planning and on-site event services. SANCB also leverages its extensive network of local suppliers to help clients host meetings, conference, exhibitions and incentive programmes in the country. On 3 September 2025, MUT staff from various divisions met the SANCB staff off campus to discuss how the organisations could work together so that not only they could benefit, but

The change at the University in several areas has been highly commended by one of the watchdogs. Two staff members from the South African Human Rights Commission’s KwaZulu-Natal office, who visited the University on 4 April 2025, hailed the University for the strides it is taking to bring about the necessary transformation that affects both staff and students. The transformation at the University is in line with the core mandate of the SAHRC, which, as noted by Ntombi Dube, Human Rights Monitor, is to promote, protect, and monitor the attainment of everyone’s human rights in the country. Musa Mgenge, Human Rights Officer, commended MUT for focusing on a number of areas that needs transformation of one kind or another. “I commend the University for using sport and creating a Gender Forum, and also for its attitude  towards  the disabled  students,” Mgenge said. Dube said that they were at MUT to

Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) has secured a valuable new partnership with Taaibosch Piggery, a leading agricultural enterprise based near Fochville in Gauteng. According to Dr Karabo Molomo, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Agriculture – Animal Production in the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences at MUT, the collaboration will create “exciting” work-integrated learning (WIL) and internship opportunities for MUT students, starting in 2026. Taaibosch Piggery, established by CP and Gerda Kriek in 2013, operates one of South Africa’s most advanced pig farms. With 2,400 sows, an on-site feed mill, an artificial insemination gene transfer centre, and a complete production cycle, the farm is a hub of innovation and sustainability in animal production. Dr Molomo “finalise the agreement” with Kriek. Through this partnership, MUT students will no longer apply through open public submissions, but will instead be directly prioritised for placements. This ensures alignment with the farm’s skills needs

While the problems associated with vectors are still an issue, it is pleasing to report to that the Department of Environmental Health, in the Faculty of Applied and Health Sciences, is doing something to mitigate what these small animals do. Vectors, also commonly known as pests such as mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches, and rodents, have been implicated in various diseases, including Malaria, Dengue fever, Bubonic plague, and food-borne illness. The control of vectors requires a range of interventions, including environmental management, biological control, and chemical control through the use of pesticides. On 29 August 2025, the BSc Environmental Health Vector control second-level students attended a field trip at the eThekwini Vector control depot in Springfield, Durban. Dr Trishka Govender, a Lecturer in the department, said that during the visit, the students received training on vector behaviour and vector control methods from Bala Moodley, Environmental Health Practitioner, and Sagren Moodley, Environmental Health