“Celebrated international fashion designer and VUT alumnus David Tlale challenged students at VUT’s inaugural Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Awards to combine excellence with integrity, innovation, entrepreneurship and social responsibility.”
22 September 2026 | Story by: Qhawekazi Memani | Picture: Keitumetse Mokgope
5 minutes read time.
Celebrated international fashion designer, entrepreneur and Vaal University of Technology (VUT) alumnus Mr David Tlale challenged students to use their academic achievements as a platform for meaningful social and economic impact when he delivered the keynote address at VUT’s inaugural Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Awards on 18 September 2026.
Returning to his alma mater during its 60th anniversary celebrations, Mr Tlale drew on his journey from student to one of South Africa’s most recognised fashion brands, urging award recipients to combine excellence with integrity, innovation, entrepreneurship and social responsibility.
Addressing top-performing students, university leaders, academics and guests, Mr Tlale congratulated the award recipients but cautioned that excellence carries responsibilities beyond academic success.
He encouraged students to look beyond certificates and accolades and consider how their knowledge, skills and opportunities can contribute to the development of society.
“What have you done with the time that God has given you?” he asked.
Drawing on his own journey, Mr Tlale reflected on growing up in Vosloorus, studying at VUT and eventually building one of South Africa’s most celebrated fashion brands. His success on international platforms, he said, demonstrates what is possible when talent is matched with discipline, continuous learning and a commitment to excellence.
Despite achieving international recognition, he said his work remains rooted in a desire to contribute to South Africa.
“I don’t do it for David Tlale. I do it for my country,” he said.
A recurring theme throughout his address was the importance of lifelong learning. He urged students not to view graduation or academic recognition as the end of their educational journey.
“Never stop learning,” he said.
Mr Tlale also challenged students to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and become creators rather than consumers. He argued that South Africa’s future depends on producing more innovators, manufacturers and business leaders capable of creating jobs and driving economic growth.
“We need to stop being consumers more than manufacturers,” he said.
He encouraged students to think critically about how knowledge gained at university can be transformed into practical solutions, sustainable businesses and industries that address real societal needs.
The award-winning designer highlighted the value of mentorship and skills development, citing his Interns by David Tlale initiative, which has provided training and mentorship opportunities to hundreds of aspiring designers.
For Mr Tlale, the true measure of success lies not only in personal achievement but also in the ability to create opportunities for others.
He further emphasised that talent alone is not enough to guarantee success.
“If you have no principles, you can be talented. But if you have no principles, you’re not going to achieve anything,” he said.
According to Mr Tlale, qualities such as discipline, accountability, respect and hard work are essential for transforming talent into lasting achievement.
He reflected on lessons learned from his mother, who instilled values of responsibility and independence from an early age. Those lessons, he said, laid the foundation for the discipline that later contributed to his professional success.
Mr Tlale also addressed South Africa’s ongoing challenge of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF), arguing that creating safer communities begins with teaching respect, dignity and accountability in homes, schools and institutions of learning.
He urged students, as future professionals, entrepreneurs and leaders, to play an active role in shaping a society built on integrity and respect for others.
The keynote speaker also encouraged parents and educators to support young people who pursue careers in the creative industries, noting that creativity becomes a powerful economic driver when combined with innovation, skills and business knowledge.
For the students being honoured at the Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Awards, his message was clear: achievement should never become a destination.
Instead, academic success should serve as a foundation for innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and positive social impact.
Concluding his address, Mr Tlale quoted Philippians 4:13:
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
His remarks resonated with the broader purpose of the Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Awards, which seek not only to recognise outstanding academic performance but also to inspire students to use their education in service of society.
As VUT celebrates 60 years of transforming lives through education, Mr Tlale’s message reminded award recipients that excellence is most meaningful when it creates opportunities for others, contributes to communities and leaves a lasting impact beyond personal success.
For the graduates and students recognised on the day, the challenge was simple yet profound: turn achievement into action, knowledge into innovation and excellence into meaningful change.
Mr Tlale’s own journey from VUT student to internationally celebrated fashion designer stands as a powerful example of what can be achieved when talent is matched with vision, discipline and purpose. His message to the University’s brightest students was clear: success is not measured only by what one achieves, but by how that achievement is used to uplift others and contribute to a better society.