True leadership is defined by the lasting impact a leader leaves on the lives of their people. By that measure, the legacy of the late Founder of Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT), His Royal Highness Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, stands as an enduring testament to great leadership.
More than three years after his passing on 9 September 2023 at age 95, deep respect and admiration remain for the statesman whose vision continues to shape the futures of thousands across South Africa and beyond.
At the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban, prominent figures, academics, and citizens gathered for a commemorative lecture and reflected on Prince Buthelezi’s defining contributions, particularly his commitment to empowering black South Africans through education.
At the event held in Hall 3A, Professor Marcus Ramogale, MUT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Teaching and Learning, introduced Prince Buthelezi’s son, Prince Zuzifa, and shared moving personal reflections on the Founder’s relentless crusade to elevate lives. Professor Ramogale highlighted how Prince Buthelezi saw education as the cornerstone of a better life for all. Operating during an era when black families faced severe resource constraints and limited access to educational funding, Prince Buthelezi established schools across KwaZulu-Natal to make his dream of uplifting communities a reality.
To bridge the financial gap, Prince Buthelezi made bursaries available to deserving learners and students. Among those whose lives were transformed by his generosity was Professor Ramogale himself. Addressing a packed venue, Professor Ramogale, one of MUT’s longest-serving executives, having joined the institution in 2009, shared how he personally revealed that history to Prince Buthelezi. For Professor Ramogale, his long tenure and dedication to the University represent a way to give back to the Institution that helped chart his path.
Declaring that he intends to remain at MUT until his retirement, Professor Ramogale’s sentiment reflected a broader truth many shared. While leaders may pass on, a legacy rooted in education and human empowerment lives on through those it lifted.
Among the prominent figures, academics, and members of the public who attended the University Founder’s Lecture at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban was Princess Phumzile Nokuphiwa Buthelezi, the child of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and Princess Irene, nee Mzila.