While it may be contradictory to say, “we have come to celebrate so and so’s life”, when that person has passed away, the contradiction is lessened when everyone in the event recalls good things about the individual that passed away. This was true with the memorial service of Lundi Dlamini, one of the University’s longest-serving staff members. Dlamini joined the University in the 1990s and worked in the Grounds department. Dlamini moved to the Transport department when changes occurred in the Grounds department.
Dlamini’s passing has left a gaping hole in his beloved department. The Head of the Transport department, Khehla Ndlovu, said the passing of Dlamini is a “huge loss for our department and the University as a whole. Dlamini was one of the drivers you could call from home at any time to assist. He would do his best. When I joined MUT in 2015, Dlamini was the one who assisted me with how to deal with the students. Now we only have four drivers in my department,” Ndlovu said the passing of Dlamini will make it ‘very difficult’ to deal with the high volume of work. “I am very hurt by the passing of Dlamini,” said Ndlovu.
The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Resources and Planning, Dr Bheka Ntshangase, described Dlamini’s stay at the Transport department as a time of rendering excellent service. Dr Ntshangase was speaking on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Nokuthula Sibiya. Dr Ntshangase appealed to the MUT staff who will be working with Dlamini’s family regarding human resources and other matters to do so with diligence and compassion, so that the pain the family is going through will be lessened, and the gap left by Dlamini’s passing will be closed sooner.
All other speakers described Dlamini’s service to the University in glowing terms. Sister Helen Gasa, from the University’s Health Services, described Dlamini as a mentor to the students that he ferried to various venues over the years. Sister Gasa said Dlamini was brutally honest, and fair, very helpful and very loving, particularly to his family. Dlamini did his job well, Sister Gasa said. She said she and Dlamini had a very constructive professional relationship.
The Senior Director of the Operations directorate, Dr Buhle Msomi, said Dlamini was a people’s person. He was many things to many people. “He was a mentor to young people. He was a brother to his colleagues.” Dr Msomi described how difficult it is to be a driver, working odd hours, working with people who behave differently, and being away from the family for many hours. Dr Msomi said Dlamini excelled in his job, despite all these challenges. “Not many people can stand the kinds of circumstances that drivers face,” Dr Msomi said.
While it is true that everyone at MUT will be affected by Dlamini’s passing, his immediate colleagues in the Transport department will feel that more than others. Soka Mkhize, one of the drivers, said that looking at a chair that Dlamini used will remind him of Dlamini. “I used to call him ‘brother’ because of the level of intelligence that he had. He provided solutions to problems. He was a leader,” Mkhize said.
Even the retired transport staff spoke highly of what Dlamini meant to them. Bhekumuzi Shandu, retired Transport Manager, who worked with Dlamini in two departments, said Dlamini loved his job. He was truthful. Shandu said Dlamini was very brave. He was very dedicated to his career. His passing was a significant loss. He treated the students well. He gave them good service. This is a big pain indeed. May God look after you as family. Dlamini has run his course.
Mhlaselwa Cele, who worked with Dlamini for a long time, said they worked together as a team; their professional relationship was governed by respect. Like Dlamini, Cele also worked at the Grounds department before moving to the Transport department. They played football together, Cele said. time together. They worked in two different departments. Their relationship was governed by respect. They played football together. Dlamini and his colleagues treated me well when I joined them. They worked for years at the Department of Transport. It is very painful that we have lost him. Let us accept his passing as the decision of God. It is only He knows.
Dlamini was fatally shot on his way to work. He will be buried on 5 July 2025, at his home at KwaNyuswa, near Port Shepstone, in the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal. His wives and children survive him.