To pay tribute to those who have passed on due to COVID-19 and other conditions, the Durban University of Technology (DUT) hosted an Institutional Memorial Service on Microsoft Teams, last week Thursday, 11 March 2021. This included DUT’s current and former staff, students and the University’s partners.  

This touching memorial service was facilitated by Ms Dudu Phoswa, a lecturer at DUT’s Midlands campus. She first introduced Reverend Vernon Hammond, who led the opening prayer. DUT’s Midlands Student Housing Manager, Ms Celiwe Chemane-Nyathi healed the troubled hearts of the DUT community with her angelic voice. 

Advising the bereaved families, Phoswa said they need to allow themselves to grieve as this is the only natural way the heart responds to loss. 

“When we grieve we allow ourselves to feel the truth of our pain. We allow ourselves to feel that kind of betrayal by death for taking our loved ones while we have so much invested in them. We need to be reminded that we need to manage our life with how well we lived, how well we loved and how well we let go. May God Almighty intervene in your healing process,” said Phoswa. 

To all the staff members that have passed on, Phoswa said they might be gone but they are never forgotten. She said they will always remember them for the contributions they had made to the DUT community. Phoswa urged everyone to pray that no more names are added on the list of people who have passed on. 

In comforting all those who have lost their loved ones, DUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo said: “We express, as a University Community, our deepest condolences to all our DUT family members and communities who have lost their loved ones during this period. We pray that God comforts them and that they may find understanding, comfort and peace as they try to come to terms with the passing away of their loved ones! In alignment with our ENVISION 2030 living values, we ask that our DUT community remain compassionate and caring in reaching out and praying for the affected families.” 

Prof Moyo also listed all the DUT community members who have passed on and also stated their contribution to the institution. 

The list is as follows: 

DUT staff 

• Dr Jeremiah Mohapi from Bloemfontein had 26 years of service. He served as the Head of Department for a period of 10 years in the Department of Clinical and Biomedical Technology at DUT. He studied to be a nurse at Pelonomi Hospital. Dr Mohapi worked as a male nurse for some time at Pelonomi Hospital. Later, he advanced his expertise and worked as a Clinical Technologist under the same hospital. He then moved to Durban for his position as a lecturer in the Health Science Department at the then, ML Sultan Technikon (which later merged with Technikon Natal to become the Durban University of Technology) for several years. Due to his commitment to his work, Dr Mohapi was promoted to become a senior lecturer under the Facilitation and Research Supervision department.

• Mr Rajan Deeplall from Reservoir Hills was a Laboratory Assistant under Construction Management and Quantity Surveying department. He had 25 years of service. 

• Mr Arnold Mudzanani from Silverglen in Chatsowrth was a Laboratory Assistant under the Biotechnology and Food Technology department. He had six years of service.

• Dr Dayaneethie Veerasamy was a Marketing and Retail Management lecturer in Midlands with 20 years of service. She obtained the degrees of B Com, B Com (Hons), M Com and PhD at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Started at DUT in 2000 as a replacement lecturer. Held the positions of Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Programme Manager in the Department of Marketing and Retail. Was seconded in 2018 and 2019 to the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Management Sciences to set up the Wholesale and Retail SETA Leadership Chair which she started from a blank slate. Has published in international DHET accredited journals, presented papers at several international conferences and authored a book chapter.

• Mr Lutando Charlie from Queenstown, Eastern Cape was the Head of Department: Student Housing. He only worked at DUT for two months. He did trade at Kimberly. Charlie also attended Hilton College in Pietermaritzburg, Mangosuthu University of Technology, University of KwaZulu-Natal and UNISA. 

• Mr Krishundut Jewnarain from Gillits in Hillcrest was a Manager at the Information Technology & Support Services department. He had 43 years of service.
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DUT students 

• Mr Njabulo Mdluli, 3^rdyear student, Marketing and Retail. 

• Mr Bongumusa Msweli, 4^thyear student, Homeopathy. 

• Mr Ndumiso Mbuso Nhleko, 2^ndyear student, Information Technology. 
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DUT honorary graduate 

• Dr Mjikijelwa Welcome Nzimande fondly known as Bhodloza from Richmond in KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Higher education: Ndaleni Teachers College, University of Zululand. In 2018 Dr Nzimande was conferred an honorary Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Visual and Performing Arts by DUT.
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DUT Partners 

• Dr Rajen Reddy who was a donor at DUT. KZN Oils was conceptualised in 1994 by Rajen Reddy. Rajen Reddy’s career spanned over 36 years in business, during which time he had owned a retail Shell service station for nine years. In 1996 he decided to sell the service station and focus on KZN Oils, a 100% Black Economic Empowerment Company that resells petroleum related products to public and private companies. The RR Group is a fully fledged black empowerment company, it supports Black owned businesses very aggressively. In the spirit of true African hunters, the company is vigorously pursuing marketing opportunities in South Africa and on the African continent. The RR Group believes that this will create a platform for other black empowered companies to expand their businesses. Whilst the company acknowledges the importance of expanding local business beyond its borders, it is their intention to build critical mass and sustainable revenue. In the next five years, the group sees themselves as a commercially successful company in South Africa with a strong footprint in Africa, inspiring and supporting black entrepreneurship.

• Professor Yusuf Karodia who is a friend to DUT. Prof Karodia began his career in 1973 as a school teacher. In 1988, after obtaining a master’s degree in Education at the University of South Africa, he taught education management and comparative education at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). He later received his Ph.D. from the University of Pretoria. His talents and abilities have been recognised by various awards during his career. These include the British Council, Fulbright, and Educational Opportunities Council scholarships. Professor Karodia was the founder of the Southern-Africa based private distance education institutions, Regent Business School and MANCOSA.
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Former DUT staff 

• Mr Aswanth Dheo Kumar, former Chief Financial Officer, worked at DUT for 29 years and retired in March 2020.

• Ms Shirley Dorisamy was the Secretary for former ML Sultan Vice Rector.

• Mr Andrew Pillay was from the Hotel School.
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Deputy Dean: Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Professor Sudesh Rathilal said it has been a year since the deadly virus, COVID-19 entered South Africa and since then people have lost many loved ones, including students of DUT.  

“They were not only students but children, brothers, sisters, friends and colleagues. They will be fondly remembered by many who are here and those who have crossed their paths. It is an incalculable loss to their families and loved ones. The increasing and decreasing numbers of infections mean little to the families who have lost loved ones. One life lost is one life too many. Our students came through our doors with an intention of making a better life for themselves, their family and their communities,” said Prof Rathilal.  

He said it was truly sad that these young souls did not achieve their dreams as they were taken away at such a young age. On behalf of DUT, he offered sincere condolences to the family and friends of the fallen, beloved students. He reminded the DUT community to continue to observe the preventative protocols to reduce the spread of the deadly virus.  

DUT Library Manager, Mr David Thomas closed the session in prayer, praying for the souls of the DUT community members who have passed away, to rest in eternal peace. He also prayed for strength and comfort of all those who lost their loved ones. 

Pictured: Some of the DUT community members who have passed on due to COVID-19 and other conditions. 

Simangele Zuma