It was a bittersweet occasion as the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, within the Faculty of Management Sciences at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), recently bid farewell to three long-serving staff members at the DUT Hotel School, Ritson campus in Durban.
Directed by department lecturer, Mrs Nozipho Sibiya, the exquisite and intimate farewell programme was well attended by staff and students from the DUT Department of Hospitality and Tourism, along with the families of the departing staff members. Attendees shared heartfelt messages and emotional well wishes, making the occasion memorable.
Professor Erasmus Mzobanzi Mnguni, former Head of Department and Associate Professor, and Mr Jaya Naidoo, Senior Lecturer and Work-Integrated Learning Coordinator, will retire after 28 and 36 years of dedicated service to DUT, respectively. Lecturer Ms Nelisiwe Mlotshwa will also depart the university to take on a new role after 24 years of committed service.
Prof Mnguni began his professional journey at DUT in 1996 as a temporary laboratory/kitchen assistant at the former ML Sultan Technikon. This followed 11 years of experience in the hospitality industry and the completion of a National Higher Certificate in Commercial Catering at the institution.
His journey has since been defined by a series of academic accomplishments. Prof Mnguni furthered his education with a Diploma in Catering Management from DUT, a BTech in Post-School Education, a Master’s Degree in Food and Beverage Management from DUT, and a Doctorate in Tourism and Hospitality from the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT).
He has held various positions within the university and the Department of Hospitality and Tourism, progressing from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer, then Associate Professor, and ultimately serving as Head of Department.
Naidoo, with over 40 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, has dedicated 36 years to DUT, where he has held various roles, including Work Integrated Learning Practitioner, Programme Coordinator in Hospitality, and Senior Lecturer. He earned a Master’s in Hospitality and Tourism from the University of Zululand (UNIZULU). As a WIL Coordinator, Naidoo has excelled in fostering strong industry relationships, enabling numerous students to secure internships at prestigious international hotels such as Disney World in Florida (USA), Hyatt Regency Oryx in Doha, Qatar, and Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel in the UAE, among others.
Mlotshwa’s journey at the institution began as a student, having completed a National Diploma in Catering Management from 1995 to 1997. She later returned to DUT in 2001 as a Laboratory Technician and was appointed as a Lecturer in 2003.
In her years as a lecturer, Mlotshwa graduated with a BTech in Food and Beverage Management and a Master’s degree in Management Sciences, specialising in Hospitality. She has taught both in the Catering Management and Hospitality Management programmes and has been involved in supervising students in Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) and coordinating the Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP).
Director and Head of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism, Professor Oswald Mhlanga, congratulated the departing staff members on their standout career with DUT, wishing them well for the future.
“I stand here with mixed emotions as we celebrate a big farewell to three of our academic staff members. You have proven that you can be loyal in an organization, and you have earned trust and respect from all colleagues and students alike who came into contact with you,” said Prof Mhlanga.
He added that, although he has been with the institution for a short time, having joined DUT in January 2025, can attest that his colleagues’ contribution to the department has been invaluable. He also expressed that it has been a pleasure working alongside them.
Pictured: Departing staff members pose for a group photograph with farewell attendees.
Photographer: Sbonelo Dlamini
Thulasizwe Nkomo
