In an unusual visit by university funders, especially on a day before MUT officially closed for the year, on 11 December 2025, MUT had the honour of hosting the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), led by Dr Titus Zwanani Mathe. Dr Mathe, CEO of SANEDI, is a MUT alumnus and a dedicated community builder, exemplified by his foresight in energy sustainability and its accessibility to marginalised communities and the continent. “As SANEDI, we have taken a decisive step in advancing South Africa’s energy and sustainability agenda, and in this journey, we are walking with the university. MUT needs to play a critical role and sit at the table with other universities.”
The meeting, chaired by Dr Xolile Ngubane, Senior Director in the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, brought together key stakeholders, including Morakanele Thipe, Manager in the office of the SANEDI CEO and MUT leadership, including Dr Richard Chidzonga, acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Papi Numbi, acting HOD: Electrical Engineering, Mbali Mkhize, Senior Director: Marketing and Communications, and Zama Sishi, Director: Stakeholder Relations Management.
At this high-level meeting held at MUT’s main campus, the two institutions finalised governance structures for the Energy, Water, Food, Climate (EWFC) Centre of Excellence and formalised its leadership. The EWFC Centre of Excellence, housed within MUT’s Faculty of Engineering, was established under a five-year Grant Funding Agreement between SANEDI and MUT. The mandate of the Centre is to drive research, innovation, skills development, and stakeholder engagement in areas critical to South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JIT), climate resilience, and sustainable development. Discussions centred on compliance and governance matters are vital to the operationalisation of the Centre.
The meeting achieved significant milestones with the signing of the Terms of Reference for the Steering Committee, a critical component of the collaborative agreement between SANEDI and MUT to advance socio-economic development through cutting-edge energy research and innovation. Representing MUT, acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Bulelani Mahlangu, signed on behalf of Acting Vice-Chancellor Dr Anette Mienie, while SANEDI CEO Dr Zwanani Titus Mathe signed on behalf of SANEDI. The Steering Committee will play an essential role in guiding the Centre’s strategic direction, approving plans and budgets, monitoring implementation, and fostering stakeholder engagement. It will also ensure alignment with national energy and climate strategies, oversee the Centre Manager’s performance, and advise on research initiatives, academic programmes, and partnerships with industry and government.
“We do not want MUT to be left behind on the country’s progress in energy matters. The EWFC Centre will focus on developing academic programmes, supporting postgraduate research, and implementing pilot projects that address the energy-water-food-climate nexus. It will also serve as a hub for partnerships with industry, government, and donors, reinforcing MUT’s role as a key player in South Africa’s sustainable development journey,” said Dr Mathe, CEO of SANEDI.
The meeting also addressed the formal appointment of the Centre Manager, underscoring both parties’ commitment to accelerating progress in energy-related research and development. Dr Richard Chidzonga, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, received the formal appointment letter as Interim Centre Manager. In this role, he will provide strategic, administrative, academic, and operational leadership to ensure the successful establishment and long-term sustainability of the EWFC Centre of Excellence. Accepting the appointment, Dr Chidzonga assured SANEDI CEO of MUT’s readiness. “MUT is very capable of taking the Centre forward and ensuring that its mandate is executed properly, applying the due expertise required,” he said.