As Human Rights Day continues to be observed across the country, Professor Rushiella Songca, MUT’s Interim Vice-Chancellor and Principal, has begun shaping a conversation about how human rights are understood and practised within the university. This conversation dovetails with already established conversations that Dr Xolile Ngubane, senior director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, had initiated with the Human Rights Commission last year in co-hosting Human Rights Day 2026. The discussions laid the foundation for student and staff dialogue, in which a commitment to celebrate Human Rights Day was made, and the establishment of a new cadre of MUT Human Rights Champions, who will advocate for equity, justice, and inclusion across campus, was also announced.
This week, Professor Songca, also regarded as a prominent South African academic and legal expert specialising in children’s rights, human rights, and the intersection of customary law with the South African Constitution, addressed an event initiated by her office, represented by Dr Xolile Ngubane, in collaboration with the Department of Accounting and Law. The gathering brought together staff, students, and legal practitioners from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Department of Justice, creating a space for reflection on the place of human rights in both academic and institutional life.
In her opening remarks, Professor Songca emphasised that human rights should not be confined to symbolic observance. Instead, she urged the university community to consider how these principles are expressed in everyday interactions and decisions. “Human rights must not exist only as ideals we celebrate on a single day,” she said, “but as principles we actively live out in our lecture halls, residences, workplaces, and communities.”
She framed the role of the university as extending beyond teaching, noting that the real measure of the institution lies in how consistently it fosters an environment in which individuals feel recognised, respected, and able to participate fully. In line with the principles of equality and fairness, she acknowledged the SRC’s role in supporting students in exercising their rights, thereby contributing to a sense of inclusion and shared responsibility within the institution. The event was part of a broader effort to position human rights as guiding principles shaping the culture and practices of the university.