In what could be described as an unprecedented gesture of institutional leadership, Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) Council Chairperson, Dr Mosidi Makgae, has set a new tone for University governance by hosting a Gala Dinner that celebrated not only MUT’s remarkable institutional recovery, but also the people behind its success.
The event, held on 23 October 2026, departed from conventional recognition ceremonies by bringing together Council members, the executive, senior managers, and support staff whose contributions are often made behind the scenes.
Describing the occasion as “a day of celebration: celebrating institutional recovery and restoring our confidence,” Dr Makgae made it clear that the University’s journey from a disclaimer audit opinion to an unqualified audit opinion was more than a financial achievement. It was a powerful demonstration of what institutions can accomplish when governance structures and management work towards a common purpose.
“We are a Council that will work with management. I am prepared to see how the executive and Council, including organised labour, are all in this to be more united and more constructive,” she declared.
Dr Makgae’s message challenged the perception that university Councils and executive management must operate in adversarial relationships. Instead, she advocated a governance culture rooted in constructive engagement, mutual respect, accountability and collective responsibility for institutional success.
[This is a developing story, a learning curve for MUT, and will be covered in the Special Gnf and/Masakhe, GnF Ed. Team].