Academic Opening 2020

Professor Ihron Rensburg, VUT Administrator addressing VUT staff, students and guests

The academic opening for 2020 began with a very emotional session in a loving memorial service of the late VUT Chancellor Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi.

Dr Mkhwanazi served as the Chancellor of the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and was inaugurated in August 2017; it was a role he fulfilled with pride. He was born on 13 March 1955 and passed away on 4 of January 2020, after being diagnosed with cancer.

VUT paid tributes to Dr Mkhwanazi by inviting the Mkhwanazi family to come and be part of the memorial service. The Mkhwanazizi family and a former colleague were also given the platform to speak about the late Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi’s life and talk about the great memories they shared with him.

Dr Paul Shongwe, President and Chief Executive Officer of Trans Orange Conference of the Seventh Day Church, delivered a tribute as a former colleague at UPE/NMU Trust about his profession, saying,” Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi was an internationally experienced senior business leader, who served as a director in several companies. He contributed immensely and inevitably to the development and sustainability of businesses across the globe”.

Andile Mkhwanazi, the son, and Blessing Mkhwanazi, the brother of the late Dr Mkhwanazi, also shared special and cheering moments they shared with him during his lifetime. At the end of the memorial service session, Professor Ihron Rensburg also acknowledged the Mkhwanazi family.

On the last session of the day, Professor Ihron Rensburg, VUT Administrator, welcomed all first-year students by encouraging them to aim high and excel in their academics. He gave an overview of what his role and duties are as the appointed Administrator. He emphasised the fact that the appointment of the Administrator has brought many changes to the university.

“Many of these deficits have been addressed, notably: refocusing of the university management; realignment of executive management structures and institutional accountability; review and approval of the University Strategic Plan 2024; appointment of the internal auditor and the internal audit plan; implementation, for the first time, commencing with P1-5, of the University performance management system; and critical executive appointments. About the latter, we have also made offers of appointment for two of the three vacant Deputy Vice-Chancellor positions, and for the Chief Financial Officer. The appointment of the Executive Director for Operations and Logistics at the end of last year is already bearing fruit. “

In closing, Professor Rensburg turned to the issue of certain students who had caused disruptions during academic registrations and were now facing consequences of being suspended.