On Friday, 22 May 2026, the Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Mangosuthu University of Technology, Professor Rushiella Songca, made time to engage with learners, educators, deputy principals, and the principal from Makhosana Manzini High School, from Bushbuck Ridge, Mpumalanga Province during an educational exposure visit to the university.
Led by Principal Martin Nkuna, the delegation comprised approximately 170 learners accompanied by 18 teachers, including the principal and his management team. The visit formed part of the school’s ongoing efforts to expose learners to institutions of higher learning beyond their home province and broaden their academic aspirations.
Welcoming the group, Professor Songca commended Nkuna for his visionary leadership and commitment to learner development. She warmly welcomed the learners and pleasantly surprised many in attendance by sharing a few Sepedi expressions — a language she had gained when she was a senior lecturer at the former Turfloop University, now known as the University of Limpopo.
Professor Songca remarked that the school demonstrated the kind of academic ambition, discipline, and leadership potential that aligns with the values and aspirations of the MUT student community under the university’s IGNITE 2030 vision.
One of the grade 12 learners, Vuntlari Khoza, expressed appreciation for the engagement, saying:
“It is a great honor to have a conversation with the vice chancellor and to meet you in person and see the personality behind the gown and not at graduation. We can see what it’s like as we see other students being on campus and envision the future that we, ourselves would like to have and to be independent one day. Destinies have different paths, maybe one day we’ll find ourselves amongst other learners here at Mangosuthu University of Technology. It is really quite an honor to have a conversation personally I feel like I’ve seen you beyond your title, you are very humble, that’s what I could say and with other learners as well Grade 8’s, not just us matriculants but they see that behind the doors of Makhosana Manzini High School there’s more to what life can offer. I’d like to thank I’m behalf of my fellow pupil, teachers and our principal.
Following their interaction with the Vice-Chancellor, the learners joined the broader campus tour, during which they were exposed to several of the university’s facilities and academic environments. The delegation also visited the MUT Radio studios, where learners gained insight into campus media operations and student broadcasting platforms. The visit reflects MUT’s continued commitment to widening access, strengthening social cohesion, and inspiring future generations of university students through engagement with schools across South Africa.