DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Thandwa Mthembu has encouraged student leaders to use their positions to make a meaningful contribution to the University and wider society.
Prof Mthembu delivered the keynote address at the opening of the third annual Student Leadership Week (SLW), held at the Indian Cane Growers’ Hall at the ML Sultan Campus in Durban on Monday, 21 September 2026. His address was titled “Shaping the Future: Student Leadership as a Catalyst for Social Change and Transformation.”
This year’s Student Leadership Week was held under the theme “Purposeful Leadership: Impact Beyond the Title” and brought together DUT student leaders and speakers for discussions on leadership, integrity, innovation, diversity, inclusion and social impact.
The address came as Prof Mthembu approached 10 years as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of DUT. He assumed the position on 1 October 2016, following almost 10 years as Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the Central University of Technology (CUT).
Introducing Prof Mthembu, DUT Registrar Dr Maditsane Nkonoane highlighted his academic background and extensive experience in higher education leadership. He said Prof Mthembu holds a PhD in Mathematics from the University of the Witwatersrand and has published research in international journals, including work in approximation theory. His research interests have since expanded into areas including higher education management.
Dr Nkonoane also highlighted Prof Mthembu’s involvement in several national and international higher education structures, including Universities South Africa, the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa and the International Association of University Presidents.
He said Prof Mthembu has contributed to higher education in South Africa for 38 years since entering academia, including 30 years in senior and executive leadership positions.
Reflecting on his own journey, Prof Mthembu told student leaders that their circumstances should not determine what they can achieve.
He shared that he was born in eNquthu and grew up in Thalaneni, Nkandla. While his father was away from home studying, family elders removed him from school so that he could look after the cattle.
Prof Mthembu said the experience shaped his understanding of perseverance and the importance of creating opportunities for the future. He encouraged student leaders not to allow their backgrounds to limit their ambitions, but to work towards building sustainable futures for themselves and their communities.
He also challenged student leaders to think beyond the positions they hold and consider the impact of their leadership.
“Leadership should be driven by societal impact,” he said, encouraging students to have the courage to speak out and challenge society when it moves in the wrong direction.
Prof Mthembu connected his message to DUT’s ENVISION2030 strategy and its focus on producing adaptive graduates who are able to respond to a changing world and contribute to the upliftment of humanity.
He also reflected on his inaugural address at DUT in 2016, recalling his call for University programmes and approaches to move beyond simply reproducing the past.
He encouraged students to embrace creativity and innovation when responding to societal challenges. Referring to the Ten Commandments in the Bible, he spoke about the principle of loving one’s neighbour and said leadership should extend its concern beyond the individual to the wider community.
DUT Dean of Students Dr Clement Moreku said the University remained committed to developing graduates who are creative, innovative and adaptive.
“Through initiatives such as Student Leadership Week, we continue to invest in the intellectual, social and ethical development of our student leaders, recognising that today’s student leaders are tomorrow’s custodians of our institutions, industries and democratic society,” said Dr Moreku.
Student Leadership Week continued with a focus on different aspects of purposeful leadership.
Day Two focused on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship, with businessman and philanthropist Moses Tembe delivering a keynote address titled “From Vision to Reality: The Power of Innovation in Leadership.”
On Day Three, Professor Ndumiso Ngidi, Director of the International Centre of Non-Violence (ICON) at DUT, delivered a keynote address titled “Beyond Diversity: Cultivating Identity, Belonging and Inclusive Leadership.” The day focused on “Diversity, Identity and Belonging: Becoming vs Being.”
Student Leadership Week concluded on Friday, 25 September 2026, with the closing ceremony and keynote address by Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka.
Advocate Gcaleka addressed student leaders on “Leading with Integrity: Building Trust, Accountability, and Excellence,” bringing together the week’s discussions on purposeful, ethical and impactful leadership.
The programme gave student leaders an opportunity to engage with experienced leaders and reflect on their responsibilities to DUT and society beyond their terms of office.
Pictured: DUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Thandwa Mthembu addressing student leaders during the opening of Student Leadership Week.
Photographer: S’bonelo Dlamini
Simangele Zuma
