Justice Maya said the independence of the judiciary is fundamental to the democracy of South Africa to enable judges to apply the law impartially and without influence to protect the constitution and its integrity.

“We must protect judiciary independence. Organs of state and individual should refrain from interfering with the functioning of the courts. Of course, the supremacy of the law lies in the appropriate checks and balances to make sure that there are accountability, responsiveness and openness values which are espoused by the constitution,” she said.

“The judiciary must always be in control of its functions and administration as well to ensure that there is sufficient protection for its integrity. Democracy requires a separation of powers between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. Despite the different roles played by the judiciary, executive and legislature, our democracy requires these spheres of government to work together.

UMP Chancellor Justice Maya with the Vice-Chancellor Professor Mayekiso, Judge President Legodi, DVC: Professor Shirley Sommers and the University Management. 

Justice Maya spoke of equality before the law and that everyone is equal before the law. The Deputy Chief Justice also emphasised the importance of protecting the independence of the Chapter 9 institutions such as the Human Rights Commission, the Auditor General, the Electoral Commission, the Commission for Gender Equality and other related institutions.

“Other organs of state are obligated to protect these important institutions to ensure their independence, impartiality, dignity and effectiveness.”

She cites that despite the existence of the country’s sophisticated laws, and institutions established upon them, crime continues to skyrocket and that over 15 000 women were victims of assault, attempted murder and murder, while over 10 000 rape cases were reported. 

“The violation of women and children is escalating and that more women are murdered by their partners. Gender-Based Violence is a profound human race condition with major social and developmental impacts for survivors of violence, as well as their families, communities and society more broadly.”

Adding onto the problems of crime, Justice Maya added that the energy crisis and Covid-19, broken education system and the staggering unemployment of the youth add to society’s woes.

UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Mayekiso welcoming guest at the annual lecture.

“More than a third of people are lingering around not knowing what to do with themselves and get up to mischief because they have nothing to do. While huge sectors such as manufacturing and transport industries have reported a decline.

All of these factors have everything to do with the rule of law. Our laws, our organs of state or courts have no value at all if they do not protect all people inhabiting our country and do not give effect to their constitutional rights. No one of the government arms carries the bigger burden in execution of the constitutional obligation than the o others.

The judiciary, the executive, the legislature and institutions that have been created to protect our constitutional democracy must work hard jointly as stipulated by the constitution to create a South Africa that is envisaged so that no arm is burdened and having to carry the work that should be done by others.

An executive that does not diligently play its part and is not accountable, does not lead by example will ultimately lead to no confidence to our institutions, including our judiciary which is an overseer at the end of the day it is the glue that holds everything together."

Spirit of Ubuntu should prevail

She further explains that South Africa has made strides in other areas, such as providing water supply in rural and underserviced areas and providing electricity.

“Regrettably we seem to have lost the belief of Ubuntu – our connectedness and the notion that we exist because they exit is not there any more. These beliefs we need to restore to society, to remind our courts of the interconnectedness of our people, reminds our courts that if the rule of law becomes redundant our communities will suffer. Today, my message is that as we endeavour to find where we fit, as we try to find solutions to the problems. Each one of us can make a difference,” she concluded.

Speaking at the same event, UMP Vice–Chancellor Professor Thoko Mayekiso spoke of the importance of ethical and moral leadership as an institution.

“As UMP, we are an African university that has a vision of creating opportunities for sustainable development through innovation, but without ethical and moral leadership we will never achieve that.

The Archbishop Thabo Makgoba Annual Lecture on Ethical and Moral Leadership has become a permanent feature on UMP’s calendar. Ethical and moral leadership need to be practised by everyone,” she said, adding that South Africa’s democracy is under threat due to the lapsing of ethical and moral leadership."

The event concluded on a high note with the announcement of the winner of the essay competition which required students to write about ethical and moral leadership. The winner, Bachelor of Arts student Precious Mamagobo, won a book voucher to the value of R1 000.

@ Story by Lisa Thabethe. Pictures @Chrisplphoto.

UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Thoko Mayekiso, received the award on behalf of the university and joined over 700 attendees and a combination of over 30 phenomenal women across Africa and organisations advocating for gender equality and women empowerment that have been honoured for their work at the Standard Bank Top Women Awards 2022.

Congratulating the University, UMP Chancellor and Deputy Chief Justice, Mandisa Maya said: “This is a clear show of tremendous diligence and hard work. I extend my warmest congratulations to Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mayekiso and the University. This is proof that UMP is a centre of excellence. I’m personally proud of my association with the university. I wish you all the success you deserve in the future,” she said.

This year, the Standard Bank awards were celebrated under the theme: ‘Rise Above the Noise’, and the programme was aimed at uplifting and celebrating companies and women that continue to do great work in their respective fields.

UMP was under the category: The Organisation Awards, which celebrate and recognise the achievements of organisations striving to make the workplace supportive of women, while the Individual Awards recognise the achievements of individuals for the past 18 months of individual female entrepreneurs, executives, employees.

The Standard Bank Top Women annual awards honour outstanding leadership, inspiration, vision and innovation in organisations that play a role in advancing women to the forefront of the economy.

2022 has seen UMP reaping many rewards for its great successes. The institution has scooped a series of accomplishments, and these include: The 2022 National Research Foundation (NRF) Excelleration Award, which acknowledges South African research institutions for achieving the most improved research performance over recent years as evaluated by independent parties and measured against a selection of critical indicators.

UMP is the eighth South African University to win the Excelleration Award since the award was introduced. 

“One of our strategic goals is to create and support an environment that fosters research quality, impact and productivity. We have witnessed over the years an increase in the numbers of staff with doctoral degrees, NRF-rated researchers, research outputs and funding for research, as well as scholarships for honours and master’s students. We congratulate our researchers on this achievement,” said Professor Mayekiso at the time.

@ UMP Communications Division. Pictures supplied.

She further applauded the student leaders for the role they played when occupying the office after a difficult year following the Covid-19 pandemic, citing that they understood that UMP comes first and worked in the best interest of the university and its students.

"As management, we appreciate engagement with student leadership, even with robustness sometimes, but in the end, whenever we have the big-picture approach, we arrive at win-win solutions. Striving for common ground has proved a winning formula. It is a great human attribute to engage with civility and cordiality - even when you differ, you have respected the brand of UMP,” said Professor Mayekiso.

“You believed in the power of dialogue and engagement, and you led and demonstrated the importance of mutual respect. The need of your constituency, the UMP students, were met, in the main because you brought them to us as management and made sure that these needs were properly articulated.”

She continued to show appreciation to Mr Bathini Madinawe, the president of the SCR and CRC, and applauded him and his team for leading with integrity and putting the interests of the university and the students first.

“You never allowed popularity to sway you or to cloud your judgement. You truly served as a voice of reason. Your rational and independent thinking helped us a lot in conflict resolution,” said Professor Mayekiso.

UMP Vice-Chancellor Professor Mayekiso, outgoing SRC President Madinawe and Dean of Students Dr Maminza.

Dean of Students, Dr Paul Maminza shared the same sentiments with the Vice-Chancellor. He added: “You have supported the students well and we appreciate the role you have played during the year,” he continued.

“To the SRC President Bathini, we have worked very well. We are having this event when students a writing their final exams, which showed that we have achieved our aim during the course of the year.”

Giving his final remarks Bathini Madinawe said, “I stand here in honour of a phenomenal woman who has laid down her life in service of the University of Mpumalanga. I met the Vice Chancellor before my term as SRC President when I was at the verge of dropping out because of financial challenges.

She counselled me, gave me hope and dared me to soldier on. She convinced me that my journey was not over but yet to begin. She has paved and channelled my leadership journey. The VC is a woman of stature, a perfectionist at heart and is excellence driven. I am honoured to have encountered you. I hope that your warmth and motherly love will forever be reflected and appreciated,” he added.

 The SRC/CRC dinner was held at Mbombela Campus.

“Dr Paul Maminza, given his physical structure, seems to be a very hard nut to crack. Of course, his seriousness and strict composure suggest it. I can confirm today, given order, discipline and consistency, Dr Maminza isn't that bad of a person after all. In fact, I have come to actually enjoy his presence and at many times found myself seeking advice even on personal issues from him. His calmness even in serious situations never ceased to amaze me.

The SRC was well supported by his leadership which made us able to attain our deliverables. Thank you for being an available Dean of Students in times when we needed you most.”

“Always seek guidance when you stumble. We will forever be available to assist where we can, as previous SRC members have also assisted us in our leadership journey.”

“Leadership is not for clout but is an opportunity to advance the course of others, while actively being engaged in your own advancement. Build networks and lifelong relationships. Be remembered for a positive mark that your name will leave. Strive to be independent and never allow external people to mislead you, you are students, and you must focus on issues that are affecting students.”

The event ended with the handing over of certification to the outgoing student leadership.

@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures Chrisplphoto.

Munyai, who is also part of the research team (HRATE) that has been appointed by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform: Land Claims Commission to investigate the Land claim across South Africa, wants to provide solutions and mitigation measures to environmental problems.

He has contributed to land claim research reports for provinces across the country as a GIS researcher, and is keen on academic research as he believes that research provides solutions to existing community challenges and drives sustainability within societies.

“The first solution to this is the need for a collective effort to stop and remediate the damage that has already been caused to the environment, and help in achieving the sustainable development goals,” he says.

Munyai is part of the Aquatic System Research Group (ASRG) which is a group formed by Dr Tatenda Dalu and is based at the University of Mpumalanga. The ASRG involves Dr Dalu’s postgraduate students and collaborators from various institutions

He was recently tasked by the ASRG to assist with training and assisting future scientists with different aquatic sampling techniques at the university reservoir/dam and spent half a day sampling plankton, macroinvertebrates, fish and macrophytes.

“This responsibility has given me a better environment to learn. Part of the responsibilities I do with the group is to assist postgraduate students by demonstrating the sampling procedure/methods during data collection in the field, teaching students’ data analysis methods and reviewing their manuscripts and dissertations before submission,” he says.

“These tasks have not only assisted students but also improved my capacity to become a good researcher. This has also given an opportunity to many students to stand tall, believe in themselves and have more interest in academic research.”

Munyai is currently pursuing his PhD final year at the University of Venda. His study focuses on: Biodiversity and trophic structure of ephemeral pan systems within the Makuleke Wetlands, Kruger National Park, under the supervision of Dr Dalu, Prof Ryan J Wasserman and Dr Lutendo Mugwedi with the Aquatic Systems Research Group (ASRG).

“My work looks at the dynamics and functioning of the floodplain pans with more focus on examining the water, sediments, macroinvertebrates and fish biodiversity, and trophic interactions among aquatic organisms within the wetland pans,” he adds.

“The rationale behind the study is to provide comprehensive baseline data for the Ramsar declared wetland systems to aid in better management and preservation of these systems. The complexity and degradation of our aquatic ecosystem is rapidly increasing, mostly from anthropogenic inputs and only a few people understand the importance of these ecosystem in providing services to human life.

From a biodiversity and climate change point of view, we therefore remain with the responsibility to conserve these fragile ecosystems from further degradation for the sake of the future." 

Munyai has published seven research papers and one book chapter. 

Munyai is keen on the academic field as a young researcher. He has published seven research papers (in DHET Accredited journals) and one book chapter and has supervised 17 honours students to completion.

Born in the rural village of Mashau in Limpopo, Munyai actively participates in a community engagement activities.  In the Tshivhase area he is involved in a project aimed towards the establishment of a Village Concept Project to aid rainwater harvesting for communities without water for domestic use.

“I have been involved in many community engagement activities that have substantially improved the livelihoods of rural people. My target is to obtain my PhD qualification and continue to contribute to knowledge gaps that will assist our communities. In the next few years to come, I would like to see my research skills and knowledge contribute to global transformation and help in achieving the sustainable development goals," he adds.

"Furthermore, I strongly believe that being with the University of Mpumalanga will assist me to be a better mentor, supervisor, and a leader at various spatial scales, drawing all potential attributes from my superiors.”

His academic journey began in 2012 at the University of Venda where he obtained a BSc (2014), BSc Hons (2016) and MSc (2019) in Environmental Sciences. For his BSc Hons, his research focused on water quality assessment on aquatic ecosystems within the Thulamela area. His MSc research utilized remote sensing capabilities (Landsat 8-OLI) to determine harmful algae in water supply reservoirs found within the Vhembe District Municipality.

“My work contributed to a better understanding of remote sensing ability to detect phytoplankton biomass and cost-effective solutions to monitor and reduce algal blooms in reservoirs rather than traditional methods that are ineffective and time consuming,” he explains.

During his academic journey at the University of Venda for the past seven years, he became a student mentor, a tutor, senior mentor, writing consultant and a teaching assistant, until he was appointed as a lecturer in Environmental Sciences in August 2022 by the University of Mpumalanga where he is currently working.

@ Story by Lisa Thabethe. Pictures supplied.

The three students and their businesses have garnered some well-deserved attention. Steyn, a third-year Bachelor of Arts in Psychology student and founder of Academy of Excellence, was approached by several Community of Practice Leaders to expand her business. She was also directed to the South African Disability Association for further discussions on expanding her business, and was selected by the Allan Gray Foundation to join their mentee programme. 

Ms Ngthabiseng Mpanza, a second-year Bachelor of Science student and founder of Her First, a shop aimed at giving women cheaper, more sustainable products to use for their monthly cycle, was approached by some organizations to support her in registering her business and creating further access to the market. She also received endorsement from her councillor in KZN and the mayor who are now interested in supporting her business and moving it to the market.

Penwell Silinda, a third-year Information, Communication and Technology student, is the founder of PJS-CHEM (PTY) LTD a Developer and manufacturer of innovative products, services, and systems to solve society's problems using technology.  He received multiple accolades and is now linked to NSFAS for installation of trackers in the laptops being distributed to students, and to car manufacturers for installation of the tracker he developed. He is currently working on an app for a new airline for marketing purposes. 

UMP Entrepreneurship Club

Behind the success of these students is the UMP Entrepreneurship Club which was launched during the Student Entrepreneurship Week, recently held at the Mbombela campus. The club supports student entrepreneurs with setting up and marketing their businesses.

It also offers guidance to aspiring student entrepreneurs to pursue their business dreams and help them to cultivate start-up business ideas. The club also assists with fund sourcing, and to nurture the development of quality entrepreneurs who will be capable of competing in the local and global business market.

One of the UMP CFERI EDHE competition finalists, Penwell Silinda, said that the UMP Entrepreneurship Club will further develop aspiring entrepreneurs like him as it will act as a platform for applying and exercising academically learned skills.

“It's mostly important for institutions these days because there is a start-up wave riding across the nation. Today's varsity and college students are part of a critical generation that will further our economic recovery. The foundational role of start-ups in our economy makes the UMP Entrepreneurship Club an asset to any institution."

The Entrepreneur Club was launched with much enthusiasm.   

Silinda further explained, “The Club's objective is to train students to have the appropriate business insights and entrepreneurship skills, to cultivate entrepreneurship skills and values among the students, and to develop knowledgeable and enterprising graduates.

It also arranges some expert lectures and seminars from start-up founders or from industry experts. They can guide students and resolve many of the silliest-to-silliest questions and queries and can help by securing financial and legal help from alumni.”

No idea is too small

Dean of Students Dr Paul Maminza added, "When you graduate at UMP you should live according to the graduate attributes which is being entrepreneurial and innovative. As the university we want our students to take advantage of all opportunities presented to them.”

UMP Entrepreneurship Rapid Incubator (CFERI) Centre Manager, Dr Kanayo Ogujiuba said the club takes the entrepreneurial intentions of UMP students to a new level.

“Students must know that there is no idea that is negligible, every idea can work, for instance, they have seen some of their colleagues are finalists of the EHDE competition, so it's a morale booster for them to aspire towards.”

Dr Ogujiuba further said that the UMP assists students with their marketing plans – to help them do a framework for business opportunities and look for opportunities for them to leverage and become successful.

Dr Ogujiuba presenting at the launch of the UMP Entrepreneurship Club.

UMP CFERI success story

Dr Ogujiuba is confident that the UMP Entrepreneurship Club will continue to produce successful entrepreneurs who will inspire others and grow their entrepreneurial capacity. “We're looking at students who are already in business, who are interested in doing business, who love entrepreneurship. This year alone we went to the Malaysia Entrepreneurship Summit, and we won the Best Pitching Award. We also sent six students into the EDHE regional rounds, where three came out top of their categories.”

Dr Ogujiuba said the incubation programme is open to all students and alumni.

“We're trying to grow a new cohort of student entrepreneurs who will run with the idea, who will use the facilities we are providing at CFERI, use the support, the network, and leverage on it.

In summary, the achievements of UMP CFERI are possible because of the continued support and strategic leadership of the Vice-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Advisory Board, Professor Thoko Mayekiso.”

@ Story by Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures @Chrisplphoto

Dr Makola says when the government announced the establishment of two new post-apartheid universities back in 2013, he identified with the broader vision and goals of producing skilled and knowledgeable graduates, with the capacity and capabilities to transform their own and immediate families’ lives and the livelihood of the society at large.

“As a transformation agent myself, I yearned to be part of the implementation of this plan such that in 2015 when this position I am currently occupying was first advertised, I applied for it with the intention of making an impact. Seven years down the line, all in God’s timing, here am I as a founding Director of this division.”

Dr Makola’s area of interest and research is the transformation of higher education through the development and implementation of QMS for the Higher Education Institutions’ support services sector and the Integration of Planning and Resource Allocation with Quality Management.

“In higher education, we usually talk about rebuilding our institutions;, redefining missions, values and attitudes;, changing unwanted cultures and practices, and so forth. However, in this instance it’s a totally different narrative because we are building a new centre of excellence that is fit for purpose that responds directly to the national policy imperatives,” he explains, adding that being part of UMP affords him the opportunity to be part of the history-making process.

I’m afforded the privilege to participate in laying a brick or two in the construction of the foundational systems with an opportunity of inculcating quality in each component of the student value chain. I can already sense that I am within a particular group of people who constitute a team that is intentional about the embodiment embedding of values that translate to and influence the quality of engagement and practice at all institutional levels towards the attainment of the desired graduate attributes, thus changing lives of our young citizens,” he says.

 Dr Makola wants to contribute positively to UMP's growth.

“Our strategic imperatives and goals, as outlined in our plan of action, inform our operational and tactical planning. I am looking forward to working with the university community by assisting, and where necessary, guiding in the development, and - monitoring, and reviewing the implementation of such plans, particularly for the academic enterprise.

This will help us remain true to our mandate, stay in our lane and in check, yet being flexible whilst continuing to improve the quality of the service we render to our major stakeholders – the students, also reminding ourselves that each activity’s output in the student value chain – from application to graduatedgraduation– becomes an input of the next activity and invariably its quality impacts the whole value chain.

“This means that everyone is everyone’s customer, thus making the quality assurance of all our activities everyone’s responsibility. I’m looking forward to assisting in us in building entrenching quality management mechanisms into all our activities quality management mechanisms so that we ‘do it right the first time’ – all aimed at the realisation of our plans and the attainment of our strategic goals,” he explains.

Before joining UMP, Dr Makola was employed at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) as Director: Quality Assurance and Information Management from March 2019 to October 2022.

His other roles include being with the with Walter Sisulu University (WSU) for 21 years, of which the last 14 years he served as the Quality Assurance Manager and where he was hailed at the pioneer of the development of the university’s Quality Management Systems (QMS). He also served in various statutory structures at WSU.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Andrews University (Michigan, USA), Bachelor of Business & Administration Hons and Master of Business Administration from the University of Stellenbosch Business School. He also holds a PhD in Quality Management from the Durban University of Technology (DUT).

Dr Makola is a registered Assessor and Moderator with the Education, Training and Development Practices Sector Education and Training Authority (ETDP SETA), and also a member of the SA Society for Quality (SASQ) and serves as the Deputy Chairperson of its Quality Assurance Practitioners in Education (QAPE) Scheme

He has served at the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) in Namibia as a Quality Assurance Expert Panellist for University of Namibia New Programmes Review and at the Council on Higher Education (CHE) in South Africa as an External Expert Panellist for Institutional Audits.

@ Story by Lisa Thabethe. Pictures Supplied.

Gule, who hails from Piet Retief, is working towards becoming SA’s number one athlete, and his hard work paid off when his outstanding performance saw him being selected to represent Athletics Mpumalanga at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country Championships, recently held in Rustenburg, North-West.

“My motivation is seeing my role model Eliud Kipchoge breaking records respectively and I look up to my couch Bonginkosi Mavuso who is making strides, he came ninth in the Cape Town Marathon this year. One other thing that inspires me to work even harder is seeing other young athletes from our country breaking records.”

Gule was also awarded sportsman of the year at the University of Mpumalanga Co-curricular awards, held at the Mbombela Campus. His dedication has been rewarded.

He says, “Words cannot describe how extremely excited I am having been given this prestigious award. I was working very hard to be the best. I feel grateful for being recognised by the institution.”

The making of a star

Gule has a strict routine. “I wake up at 5am to train before I go to class. I train almost every day regardless of the weather. I usually run 15 to 20 km in the morning, and in the afternoon I do speed running. Monday I do 400m x 55, Tuesday 200m x 20, Wednesday I do tempo run, Thursday I do hill work, then Friday is my rest day. And on weekends in the morning, I do 5km and in the afternoon I do 25 to 30km,” he continues.

“I avoid alcohol and smoking because it might destroy my dreams. Before a competition I make sure I eat light food to sustain and give me energy and avoid heavy meals and oily food. Athletics requires one to be very disciplined.”

Gule was crowned UMP 2022 Sportsman of the year.  

His love for running was inspired by watching the Comrades Marathon as a child. “When I was young, I loved watching the Comrades at home with my older siblings, but I was not able to train because I was young and very shy to approach the runners in my hometown.”

Gule finally got an opportunity during one June 16 event at his hometown stadium, where he and a group of friends went to the stadium to play soccer and then decided to join the 5km fun run race alongside professional athletes such as Sibusiso Kubheka.

“That was my first attempt in running. I came third and the position came with a cash prize of R250. After winning, the group of professional runners asked that I join their club, and with that encouragement and support, I became the youngest runner in the training group,” he adds.

Sports and Recreation Officer Mbombela Campus Mr Hendry Matonsi said, "Gule is a very passionate and pushes himself beyond limits. He is driven and focused. He has a good character, he is humble, respectful and patient."

For Gule being crowned the sportsman of the year award is one of the greatest achievements in his life thus far.

“It is motivation for me and my career in running. It means I must keep working hard and there are more possibilities to come. Sports is all about love, discipline, and commitment for me.”

@ Story Cleopatra Makhaga. Pictures supplied.

The UMP delegation, which included the Dean of Students, Dr Paul Maminza, spent most of the days locked in meetings and presentations between the deans and the students of the two universities to explore opportunities and exchange ideas around optimizing student relations.

The Western Sydney University is a leading institution that has 27 colleges with 129 undergraduate and 101 postgraduate programmes, as well as international students from around 70 different countries. 

“A total of nine presentations were made by staff from WSU on the different areas of responsibility on student support services. These included, among others, student welfare services; counselling and disability services; Western success advisors; peer programmes; student housing; events and sporting teams; and school-based student support,” explained Dr Maminza.

Outgoing SRC President, Bathini Madinawe, said the visit was a benchmark on how other SRCs and universities are operating on student related matters, while experiencing Australia’s culture and diversity.

“What stood out for me was that the university had lot of student programmes for new students in the university, and some of these included checking all students through social media just to get to know them better,” continued Madinawe.

“WSU uses the information gathered from social media to get to understand students’ issues and challenges and finds ways of resolving them. This, according to the university, eliminates the number of students deregistering from the institution.”

SRC Social and Transformation Officer, Thandi Mafu, said the visit was an eye-opening experience, especially regarding issues of mental health, societal issues, health issues and student issues. “Looking at some of their programmes, there are a few things we can learn from them, but it was also an affirmation that UMP is on the right track, even as a developing university.”

“They also have a peer programme, which we at UMP have as well, that works with other students to understand the content of their subjects and develop various study strategies to help you improve your academic performance,” she said.

Dr Maminza concluded: “Our students have learnt a lot from this visit."

@ Story by UMP Student Affairs Division. Picture supplied.