In a landmark moment for the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Rushiella Nolundi Songca, presided over her first graduation ceremony that took place from 21 to 23 April 2026. Professor Songca delivered speeches with different themes on the three days, all meant to prepare the graduates for the world beyond MUT. In one of these, she and delivered a stirring call to action centred on integrity, servant leadership, and the transformative power of courage.
Addressing more than 3 000 graduates families, and staff members, Professor Songca emphasised that while talent is a prerequisite for entry into the professional world, it is no longer enough to guarantee success in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
Professor Songca, who describes her leadership style as “operating under the banner of servant leadership without fear or favour,” reminded the congregation that her role is one of stewardship. “It is an honour that I do not take lightly,” she stated. “My team and I serve this Institution and the University community at large with a commitment to doing what is right.”
The core of the Vice-Chancellor’s keynote focused on the relationship between fear and success. Challenging the traditional view that fear is a weakness, Songca posited that fear is, in fact, the essential “cousin” to courage. Drawing on the wisdom of global icons, she quoted Nelson Mandela: “The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers fear.”
The key takeaways from the Vice-Chancellor’s address on courage were to regard fear as a sharpener. Professor Songca noted that running away from fear is running away from the opportunity to be one’s “best possible self.” She cautioned that courage is not “insane” risk-taking, such as climbing a mountain in a storm without gear; but rather a “positive, well-informed act.” And lastly, Professor Songca drove the message home by citing the two-time Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill, she reminded graduates that courage is as much about “sitting down and listening” as it is about standing up.
Professor Songca urged the new alumni to treat their time at MUT as a dress rehearsal. She noted that the skills acquired both inside and outside the classroom have prepared them to interrogate facts and question phenomena that do not align with their value systems. “You have overcome challenges you thought impossible,” she said. “Now is not the time to put that courage in your back pocket. You will need it more than ever as you face the job search and the rigours of entrepreneurship.”
In closing, Professor Songca asked the graduates to turn their attention to the parents, guardians, and caregivers in the audience. She acknowledged that the graduates’ success was built on the “unmeasured courage” of those who supported them, often facing their own fears to ensure a better future for their children.
As the ceremony concluded, the Vice-Chancellor challenged the Class of 2026 to personal success and to empower others, contributing to a society “that we can all be proud to call our own.”