07 June 2025 | Story: By: Tshepiso Kaibe | Photo: Sifiso Nomzaza
2 minutes read time.
On 27 May 2025, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) hosted a compelling public lecture under Telagogy in Theory and Practice: Learning Beyond Neo-Coloniality and Neo Cyber-Coloniality. Organised by the Department of Social Justice and Transformation, the session brought together students, staff, and academic community members for a meaningful conversation about the lasting influence of colonial legacies in education and the digital age.
The event began with opening remarks from Mr George Mvalo, the Director of Social Justice and Transformation at VUT, who welcomed attendees and emphasised the importance of creating academic spaces that challenge inherited systems of thought and actively recognise African knowledge systems.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr Teboho Pitso, a respected scholar who holds a PhD from the University of Witwatersrand and currently leads the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at VUT. Dr Pitso is widely published in the areas of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship, particularly within the context of learning and teaching. He is also the author of several books and a reviewer for various local and international academic journals.
In his lecture, Dr Pitso examined neo-coloniality and cyber-coloniality, shedding light on how colonial ideologies shape contemporary education systems and digital spaces. He discussed the ongoing global reliance on Western knowledge systems and technologies, including artificial intelligence, and how these often perpetuate distorted representations of African histories, cultures, and Indigenous knowledge. According to Dr Pitso, much of what is accepted as universal knowledge has been rewritten through Western lenses, resulting in the marginalisation of African epistemologies and the maintenance of unequal power structures in knowledge production and dissemination.
A significant portion of the lecture focused on the concepts of coloniality of power, coloniality of self, coloniality of knowledge, and coloniality of nature. Dr Pitso argued that these dimensions of coloniality continue to shape how societies perceive themselves and the world around them. He emphasised the need for educational institutions to teach the
history and impact of these colonialities, allowing students to understand how they emerged, persist, and affect Africa’s place in global discourse.
The session concluded with an interactive discussion, allowing attendees to engage with Dr Pitso’s ideas, ask questions, and contribute their thoughts. The dialogue revealed a collective interest in addressing the challenges of neo-colonial structures in both academic and digital contexts. Participants expressed appreciation for the thought-provoking nature of the lecture. They acknowledged the need for African institutions to reclaim and affirm Indigenous knowledge systems as central to teaching and learning
