The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Council and Executive Management met with members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education during the committee’s oversight visit to the Indumiso Campus in Pietermaritzburg on Wednesday, 08 October 2025. Members of Council and Executive Management were also joined by the Institutional Forum, the Student Representative Council and three Unions, in presenting to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee.
The visit formed part of the committee’s week-long oversight visit to institutions of higher education in KwaZulu-Natal, to assess governance, infrastructure, financial management and student support systems.
The meeting was presided over by the Honourable Mr Tebogo Letsie, MP, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education. Prior to formal proceedings, a tour of the campus was held after the committee requested to view the newly constructed buildings, including the library, the engineering block as well as the renovated student residences.
DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu, warmly welcomed the committee and expressed his appreciation to them for making time to engage with DUT. The walkabout was led by Mr Thabani Mhlongo, Senior Director of Real Estate Management, supported by Professor Mthembu and the Chairperson of DUT Council, Mr Wiseman Madinane.
The formal proceedings commenced with a presentation by DUT Council and Executive Management Committee members. The new SRC President, Mr Sihle Nkosi engaged with the Committee and he was followed by Professor Zamokuhle Mbandlwa, Chairperson of the Institutional Forum at DUT. Representatives from NEHAWU, NTEU and TENUSA concluded the presentations to the committee.
After the presentations, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee had an opportunity to pose questions and to seek clarity from the DUT team who had presented.
In concluding, Mr Letsie, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, outlined that there is room for improvement at DUT. “We could do better on certain things, let’s improve,” he said. He indicated that there are serious steps that needs to be adhered to in order to ensure that some of the issues that were discussed does not continue as there is an understanding that universities are supposed be knowledge production factories for this country.
Pictured: DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Thandwa Mthembu addresses the attendees attending the tour of the campus at Indumiso campus.
Simangele Zuma/Waheeda Peters
