At a farewell gala dinner held on 18 September 2025, University leadership expressed gratitude for the role student leaders played in strengthening the culture of engagement and representation at UMP.
UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Mayekiso acknowledged the student leadership for their dedication, servant leadership, and advocacy for student welfare. She applauded the student leaders for their leadership and commitment to serving UMP students.
“You have excelled as brand ambassadors of UMP,” she said. "True leadership is about living a legacy and leaving the world in a better state than we found it. It is the seemingly small things, the caring, the following up, the representation and advocacy, that made it possible for all of us at UMP to have the kind of year we have experienced.”
She further added: “You understood that UMP comes first and worked always in the best interests of the University and its students. Striving for common good and common ground has proved to be a winning formula.”
The student leaders were recognised for their dedication and commitment.
Dean of Students, Dr Paul Maminza, emphasised the importance of integrity in leadership, noting the crucial role the outgoing SRC and CRCs played in guiding students with commitment and care.
“Such an occasion allows us to reflect on the year that has passed and look at the lessons and insights gained. Gala dinners are there to humanise and remind us not to forget counting our blessings and appreciating one another.
Moreover, my task is to remind us of the psychological safety we all need, to feel trusted, valued, appreciated and needed, and to raise our consciousness about our connectedness to one another,” he said.
The outgoing leadership was applauded for serving the interests of students.
Outgoing SRC President, Mr Hlompho Prosper Chiloane, reflected on the team’s journey, describing leadership as a commitment to excellence, integrity, and service. He acknowledged their collective efforts and urged the incoming SRC to lead with humility and courage.
“Service is never glamorous. It meant standing in queues during registration to assist students personally, sleepless nights drafting proposals, and intervening when landlords threatened to evict students during exams. We showed up because we understood the timeless truth that the doors of learning and culture shall be open, and our task was to make sure they stayed open.”
“Real leadership is collective. It is forged in the sleepless nights of planning, in the difficult conversations where compromise is necessary, and in the unwavering hands of comrades who stood shoulder to shoulder when it mattered most.”
He added, “To those who will take up the baton after us, remember that you are not inheriting titles. You are inheriting responsibilities. The SRC is not a platform for personal ambition; it is a covenant of trust with the student body. Lead with humility, serve with courage, and value collaboration.”
The event also marked the beginning of a new chapter for the incoming student leadership at UMP. Their role will be central to advancing the University’s vision of nurturing responsible citizens and ethical leaders who contribute meaningfully to society.
Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures by CL Photography. Copyright ©UMP