The Student Governance and Development Unit hosted the Inaugural Continental Student Leadership Summit at the Hotel School in Ritson Campus. The Summit is expected to run from Tuesday 08 July 2025 to Friday 11 July 2025. Positioning African student intelligentsia at the centre of shaping a unified, resilient, and forward-thinking continent is amongst the key foundations of the Summit.
The summit will also serve as a dynamic platform for student leaders to acquire knowledge, share experiences, and foster intercultural competence. It highlights the power of student governance in advancing innovation and transformation, both locally and globally.
The Programme Director at the official opening of the Summit, Mr Masiza Ngculu, a Manager of Student Governance and Development laid the context within which the Summit is taking place. It was in order that the Summit be opened with the African Union Anthem as well as the SA national anthem as amongst the delegates are students and staff from Kenya and Ghana as well as students from across the provinces.
DUT Registrar, Dr Maditsane Nkonoane, extended a warm welcome to esteemed delegates and students from DUT and various institutions, including University of Limpopo, University of Zululand, University of Fort Hare, Rhodes University, University of the Free State, Vaal University of Technology, Central University of Technology, University of Nairobi, Sol Plaatje University, University of Cape Coast, University of Namibia, Wits University, and Nelson Mandela University.
Dr Nkonoane began by highlighting that DUT is the top University of Technology in South Africa. He stated that students would share best practices from their institutions, and this experience would benefit not only student leaders but also student affairs practitioners. “Student affairs remain my intellectual hope. I am because of the experience; I’ve had with a few student leaders that I have had the privilege to nurture. Student affairs as a practice are interred in my bones, because this is an area within the university system that made me who I am,” said Dr Nkonoane.
He also mentioned NUSAS, a multiracial student leadership organisation that emerged from liberal universities in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Additionally, he discussed SASO, the South African Student Organisation, which was rooted in the Black Consciousness Movement.
Ms S’thembile Mjadu, Interim Director of Student Services and Development, and SRC President Mr Solomzi Zoleka welcomed students to DUT, expressing confidence that the summit would be fruitful as everyone would gain practical experience to share upon returning to their universities. They also highlighted interesting facts about KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, proudly stating its rich heritage as the home of King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, and the leadership of Premier of KZN, Thami Ntuli.
Dr Clement Moreku, said student leaders have the power to shape Africa’s future. He quoted Kwame Nkrumah, a key figure in Pan-Africanism and Ghana’s independence. Dr Moreku shared that Kwame Nkrumah’s words, “We must unite now or perish,” remain highly relevant today, emphasising the ongoing importance of unity and cooperation among African nations, 62 years after being spoken at the Organisation of African Unity’s founding.
“The first important practical investment made on our student leaders was sending a group of student leaders to other countries such as China and that happened in 2019, and it also repeated itself last year 2024 and that was true for the student leaders to learn and share their experiences with other student leaders in other countries. Later this year our student leaders shall travel to Malaysia as part of exposing them to new ways of leading,” Dr Moreku explained.
Dr Moreku shared the Continental Student Leadership Summit’s objectives, which aim to empower student leaders to drive positive change in Africa. These objectives include amplifying student voices, cultivating visionary leadership, fostering innovation, promoting intercultural unity, building networks, encouraging critical reflection, and affirming student leadership’s role in shaping higher education and society.Sharing the expected outcomes, Dr. Moreku highlighted that the Continental Student Leadership Summit (CSLS) aims to achieve strengthened student leadership, enhanced cultural solidarity, creation of Pan-African networks, and establishing DUT and CSLS as a hub for progressive student leadership and scholarship.
The summit keynote address was delivered by Professor Fulufhelo Netswera, Executive Dean of the Accounting and Informatics faculty, with the theme “Positioning Africa in the Geopolitical Map,” and the topic “Future Leadership in a Globalised World: Choices and Consequences for Africa.” Prof Netswera shared that his inspiration comes from Kwame Nkrumah. After visiting Ghana, he invested in books that narrate Nkrumah’s advocacy for African Unity from the 1950s to 1960s. He lamented that whilst philosophically Julius Nyerere initially disagreed with Nkrumah on African Unity, over time, he had but to agree with him.
There were 4 breakaway sessions with students divided across them and having differently topics students to engaged in. These groups included Ms Nontokozo Ngcobo’s group on African student entrepreneurship, Dr. Mfanozelwe Shozi and Clinton Nhlenyama’s group on climate-smart agriculture, Dr. Sikhuthali Nyangintsimbi’s group on ethical leadership, and Fanie Ndlovu’s group on AI-driven leadership. At the end of the breakaway sessions, each group was given a chance to share what transpired and what they have learned in their discussions. He also encouraged student leaders to read the book titled: Witness to Power by Mathews Phosa.
Sharing about Day one of the programme, Fezeka Majombozi, Sport Recreation Officer from Durban stated that the breakaway sessions were extremely informative and that student leaders thoroughly enjoyed, regardless of their assigned groups.
On the second day of the Continental Students Leadership Summit, delegates continued with the initiative in Pietermaritzburg, visiting the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature and the Nelson Mandela Capture Site. The purpose of the visit was to immerse participants especially those from outside South Africa in the country’s rich history and democratic institutions.
The SRC President Solomzi Zoleka explained that the inspiration for this summit was stemmed from a previous tour to Namibia. “As Africans, we must unite and tackle our challenges collectively. This summit is not about debate it is about us, the future leaders of Africa, coming together to find solutions for our continent,” said Zoleka.
The tour to Pietermaritzburg was designed to educate international and national students about South Africa’s past. A visit to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site offered them insight into the life and struggle of South Africa’s first black president and the sacrifices he made in the fight for democracy. The stop at the KZN Legislature served to highlight how provincial issues are addressed and where critical decisions are made.
Zoleka expressed hope that future Student Representative Council (SRC) leaders will continue this initiative to promote African unity and leadership development.
Abraham Norman Nortey, SRC President at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, reflected on his experience: “This journey has taught me many lessons about African history and the shared struggles across the continent. I am honoured to be part of this initiative. DUT has given us a deep understanding of unity. Visiting the Mandela Capture Site helped me see the immense dedication Mandela had for his country. This summit has reinforced the need for African countries to unite. As student leaders, we must shift our mindset to influence meaningful policies that can shape the future of our continent.”
The Continental Students Leadership Summit will end on Friday 11 July 2025.
Pictured: Attendees at the summit.
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Phiwayinkosi Sibiya and Sinamile Sithole
