Over 7 000 Grade 12 learners inspired at the MUT Open Day, Dannhauser
On 7 May 2026, the Darnacol Sports Centre in Dannhauser came alive with the energy, curiosity, and quiet determination of over 7 000 Grade 12 learners. Young people are standing at one of the most important crossroads of their lives. Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) was there to walk alongside them, bringing the full university experience right to their doorstep.
This year’s Open Day was made possible through a warm and purposeful partnership between MUT, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education’s Amajuba District, and the Dannhauser Local Municipality. Together, these three institutions came together with one shared goal of building future leaders and entrepreneurs from the heart of the Amajuba region. Learners attended from schools across Dannhauser, Newcastle, Dundee, and surrounding areas, totalling 35 schools in all, with the Department of Education playing a vital role in coordinating their participation. Without that support, the remarkable turnout simply would not have been possible. “From the onset, Xolani Khanyile, Amajuba District Coordinator, bought into our proposal of taking the MUT Open Day to the district. Meeting after meeting, we saw the event coming together like a well-oiled machine,” said Ayanda Bulose, Schools Liaison Assistant in the Marketing and Communications Department.
The Dannhauser Local Municipality stepped up generously, funding the key logistics of the event and providing strategic operational support through its Library Services unit, led by Mr Mfanafuthi Ngwabe, Director of Community Services. “This is our first event of this nature, you may not understand the depth of the need for support across our highly underserved population of Dannhauser. We appreciate MUT for the opportunity to support our efforts in nation building and youth development,” commented Ngwabe during the pre-event dry run. The presence of the Mayor of Dannhauser, Councillor Bongani Hadebe, added both warmth and weight to the occasion, highlighting how deeply the municipality values its relationship with MUT and the future of its young residents.