Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) joins countless others in mourning the passing of the founding Principal of Umlazi Comtech High School, Mr Lucky Luthuli, a visionary educationist whose influence will be felt for generations to come.
During Mr Luthuli’s tenure, MUT enjoyed a fruitful and deeply meaningful partnership with Comtech High School. Like many committed principals across Umlazi Township, he opened the doors of his beloved school. He welcomed MUT with openness and trust, enabling the University to implement its Anchor Strategy, an initiative aimed at developing and supporting neighbouring schools. Comtech High School benefited immensely from this collaboration, and Mr Luthuli played a pivotal role in ensuring its success. His leadership made it possible for Basic Education and Higher Education to work seamlessly together, creating an enabling environment for learners and students to improve their educational outcomes and become active, responsible citizens.
Notably, Mr Luthuli will be remembered as the first principal to formally endorse Mangosuthu University of Technology as Comtech High School’s feeder University, a decision that saw Comtech consistently emerge as MUT’s number one feeder school. Mr Luthuli was also a strong supporter of the Comtech Jazz ensemble, which regularly provided top-notch entertainment at MUT’s flagship events, including those in honour of the late MUT Founder and former Chancellor, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, a legacy reflected by Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director: Marketing and Communications.
Behind the broad smile and hearty laughter with which Mr Luthuli welcomed visitors, colleagues, and MUT staff alike was a leader of deep conviction, discipline, and unwavering purpose. He was resolute in his commitment to providing sound guidance and quality education to both staff and learners, qualities that endeared him to all who worked with him.
Mr Luthuli’s impact is perhaps best illustrated by the lasting relationships he forged with his former learners. Lizwi Masondo, MUT’s Safety and Health Specialist at MUT, reflected: “Mr Luthuli was not only my teacher, but also became my executive mentor. We reconnected when I joined the St. Bernard Mizeki Men’s Guild in the Diocese of Natal, which is part of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. I would often remind him that there was no principal as loved and appreciated as he was, not only by former students but also by teachers who had never been at Comtech and by the broader community. Remarkably, even his medical doctor was one of his former students.” Masondo was a learner at Embizweni Secondary School, where Mr Luthuli was the principal.
Masondo further noted that “Mr Luthuli’s leadership and competencies are unmatched, and I hope that the current generation in the education sector can follow in his footsteps and pick up on his exceptional leadership abilities.”
Mr Luthuli’s contribution to education did not go unnoticed at the national level. The Department of Education’s Dr Cassius Lubisi described his work as “exceptional,” noting that “under Mr Luthuli’s stewardship, Comtech High School achieved successive 100% National Senior Certificate pass rates, a remarkable testament to his vision, discipline, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”
Even after Mr Luthuli’s retirement, the strong relationship between MUT and Comtech High School endured. His successor, Nkosinathi Shandu, has continued this legacy, regarding MUT as Mr Luthuli did as a trusted friend and partner in education.
Mr Lucky Luthuli was laid to rest on 31 December 2025. Though he is gone, he will not be forgotten. His legacy lives on in the lives he shaped, the institutions he strengthened, and the communities he uplifted. The tributes on social media continue to show the impact Mr Luthuli had on his learners, including Dr Thobeka Makhathini, a Senior Lecturer at MUT’s Faculty of Engineering, and Sibongile Bulose at Cooperative Education, among others.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.