The University’s male employees now have a different feeling about what it is like to be a man. This was after the MUT men attended a ‘Men’s Conference’ on 19 May 2025, off campus.
The Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya, addressed MUT men as “leaders and changemakers of MUT” who were meeting for “purpose, power, and potential”. Encouraging MUT men to take a second look at life, Professor Sibiya defined life as a “journey of growth, resilience, and impact”, adding that the meeting was more than a conference but was a chance for MUT men to embrace a different look at themselves, life, and re-examine their relationship with others. “This meeting is a call to arms for men who refuse to settle for less; who dare to lead with integrity; and are committed to leaving a legacy that matters. The world needs men of courage; men who stand firm in their convictions, yet remain humble in their pursuit of wisdom,” Professor Sibiya said. Professor Sibiya added that the meeting also needed men who build bridges, not barriers; who lift others as they climb; who understand that true strength lies in character, not just conquest.
All the speakers at the event highlighted some of the reasons that result in men behaving in a particular manner, and why that is the case. For some reason, some men become aggressive towards others, including their families. Advocate Mpumelelo Zikalala, from Zikalala Attorneys, said a man must know his role in the household, and by extension, in society. “A man is an institution in the home,” Zikalala said. Building from the theme of the event, which was “From Warrior to Wisdom: Building a New Legacy for MUT Men”, he said warriors are meant to destroy. But the theme suggests that men should be more than just ‘warriors. “Do not be a warrior that destroys. Be one who builds. Times are changing. Know where to start and where to end. Be a changed person as you leave that door,” he said. He also said they, as speakers and MUT men, “need to first define a few things. What is wisdom? What is quality? What is knowledge? And how do all of these define a man? Answers to these questions are relative, but they should be part of the development of man’s skills to deal with life challenges. These answers should empower a man to make sound judgments. According to Zikalala, a man must have a plan as a guide. The plan must be communicated to those who are affected by the man’s behaviour and presence.
Another speaker, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, focused on the need for men to be fair to others by communicating their thoughts so that they would be understood. Knowing others’ needs would result in harmony and peace, particularly in the household, Ngcobo said. Ngcobo also highlighted a need for men to do physical check-ups regularly; this will increase chances of discovering physical problems early enough.
The speakers and MUT men discussed some exclusively men’s issues based on their physical makeup and proposed solutions to the problems.
Thabo Zwane, Treasurer of the MUT Gender Forum, said there will be some small-scale meetings to deal with relevant issues so that problems will not pile up.