The Durban University of Technology (DUT) continues to strengthen its commitment to social justice, peacebuilding, and transformative education under the leadership of Professor Ndumiso Daluxolo Ngidi, the newly appointed Director of the International Centre of Nonviolence (ICON).
Professor Ngidi, an Associate Professor within the Faculty of Management Sciences, is among the youngest professors at DUT. He brings a wealth of academic expertise and community-based experience to his role. He is a respected scholar and advocate for social change. His work is rooted in advancing nonviolence, addressing inequality, and empowering communities through education and research.
Originally from KwaMashu and Umlazi townships in Durban, Professor Ngidi holds a PhD in Education and Development from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His academic focus spans a range of critical areas, including the sociology and psychology of education, gender and sexuality in childhood and youth, youth and children’s geographies, gender-based violence, youth development, childhood studies, and the geographies of violence and inequality. His interdisciplinary approach positions him as a leading voice in understanding and addressing complex social challenges in South Africa and beyond.
At ICON, Professor Ngidi provides strategic direction to a centre dedicated to fostering peaceful and just societies. The Centre plays a vital role in promoting research and community-led solutions to violence while offering postgraduate programmes that equip students with the knowledge and skills to become agents of change. Through its work, ICON contributes meaningfully to both national development priorities and global frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
According to Professor Ngidi, working for ICON at DUT has always been his dream, as he was among the first volunteers for the centre when it was established about ten years ago.
“I have come full circle back to DUT. I joined the DUT community in 2013 as a Project Officer under the HIV/AIDS Centre and served in that role for about two years. I then moved to the Student Governance and Development unit, where I worked as a Student Development Practitioner for three years. I left DUT after obtaining a scholarship to pursue my PhD at UKZN. After DUT, I worked at the Human Sciences Research Council as a researcher and later joined UKZN, first as a lecturer and later as a senior lecturer within the School of Education. I then accepted an Associate Professor position at the University of Fort Hare, which I held for six months before DUT called me to take on my current role as Director of ICON,” said Professor Ngidi.
DUT providing him with the opportunity to serve as the ICON Director has been a blessing for Professor Ngidi. He is happy to be back at DUT and in his hometown of Durban, closer to his loved ones. He shared his excitement about ICON’s progress and accomplishments over the years, evolving from a small centre to a reputable international centre that has produced remarkable researchers.
Professor Ngidi revealed that when he previously worked at DUT, he also volunteered at ICON, helping to design and teach the Cornerstone module. Little did he know he would return in the future as the leader of the same centre.
The key pillars of Professor Ngidi’s leadership are trauma-informed, transformative teaching and learning, research, and community engagement for positive social change. He has worked extensively with young people in township and rural contexts, developing programmes that address pressing issues such as HIV, gender-based violence, and social inequality. His use of participatory and creative methodologies has helped amplify the voices of marginalised communities and foster meaningful dialogue around social transformation.
Professor Ngidi’s contributions to research and innovation have earned him international recognition. Among his accolades are the prestigious Harry Frank Guggenheim Young African Scholars Award and recognition from the World Bank in partnership with the Sexual Violence Research Initiative for his work in gender-based violence prevention.
Beyond his academic achievements, Professor Ngidi is widely regarded as a transformative educator whose work is deeply informed by lived experience. His personal journey has shaped his commitment to creating inclusive spaces for learning, reflection, and empowerment.
As DUT continues to position itself as a leader in impactful research and community engagement, Professor Ngidi’s leadership at ICON underscores the University’s vision of advancing knowledge that serves society. Through his work, he is not only shaping academic discourse but also contributing to building a more just, peaceful, and equitable world.
Pictured: ICON Director at DUT, Professor Ndumiso Daluxolo Ngidi.
Simangele Zuma
