07 March 2024

In a significant move towards fostering community collaboration and enhancing the relationship between academia and local governance, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) on 06 March 2024 welcomed the Executive Mayor of the Emfuleni Local Municipality, Cllr Sipho Radebe for a pivotal ‘meet and greet’ with the university’s newly appointed Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof Khehla Ndlovu.

The meeting, held at the university’s Council Chambers, marked a crucial step in Prof Ndlovu’s commitment when he started that, he will be undertaking an integrated stakeholder engagement – both internally and externally. The meeting was also described as recognition of the vital role local government plays in the overall development of the university and the community of the Vaal.

During the meeting, Cllr Radebe highlighted that both institutions have initiated engagements since last year and he wishes to see the relationship grow from strength to strength through private, public partnerships.

In response, Prof Ndlovu reiterated the university’s dedication to being an active participant in the local community as underpinned by one of the university’s strategic pillars of Socially Engaged Scholarship. He continued to add that, the university, known for its academic excellence, aims to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the community by aligning its goals with the needs and aspirations of the local population.

Both the Radebe and Ndlovu expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, highlighting the importance of universities in driving innovation, education, and economic development.

Some of the meeting’s key points of discussion, included the revival of the special economic zone (SEZ) project and the full participation of VUT and the neighbouring North-West University (NWU) and the Emfuleni Local Municipality. This, after a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the three parties in 2023. In the meeting, ELM The Executive Mayor also made an undertaking to facilitate the relationship between South African Local Government Association (SALGA) and VUT to assist with the provision of training for the municipal councilors. There was a call to speed up the vetting process and the signing of the MoU that was initiated in 2023 between ELM and VUT’s Technology Transfer and Innovation. Notably, the Mayor made an undertaking that the municipality will continue to provide bursaries to VUT students and support them through internships, post completion.

In the end, it was agreed that a more comprehensive meeting will be held where the Executive Mayor will be accompanied by Municipal Manager as a custodian of technical and administrative decisions so that decisions can be made to achieve desired outcomes.