Latest news with #TshwaneUniversityofTechnology
IOL News
2 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
TUT vice-chancellor faces legal action from Bapedi Kingdom if campus issue remains unresolved
TUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Tinyiko Maluleke faces legal action over TUT Sekhukhune campus "backtracking". Image: Thobile Mathonsi / Independent Newspapers The Bapedi Kingdom has given Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Vice-Chancellor Professor Tinyiko Maluleke 14 days to respond to their letter regarding the establishment of a campus in Sekhukhune, or face a legal challenge. The legal letter, dated Friday, May 23, 2025, now has less than a week for Maluleke to respond to. The kingdom claims that TUT has failed to honour its commitment to establish a campus in Sekhukhune, despite a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2021. The dispute between the Bapedi Kingdom and TUT centres around the university's decision to establish a campus in Giyani, which the kingdom views as a violation of the duty of good faith. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The kingdom argues that the idea of establishing a campus was conceived by the late King Thulare III for Sekhukhune, and that TUT cannot appropriate this idea for a different area and community. It further claims that Maluleke hijacked the project and shifted it to Giyani despite the 2021 MoU between the two bodies. Last month, the Kingdom, through the founder of the establishment project, William Maphutha, submitted a formal complaint to Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka, concerning allegations of TUT sabotaging the Sekhukhune university project. The four-year delay has continued to dominate headlines and sparked outrage among the Bapedi nation, who feel betrayed, especially after President Cyril Ramaphosa endorsed the project in his visit during the burial of the late King Thulare III, also in 2021. In a legal letter written to Maluleke on May 23 by the Bapedi Kingdom's legal representative, Rudolph Baloyi, the kingdom wished to have this matter resolved amicably and in line with the wishes of the late King of the Bapedi, King Thulare III, and in honour of his legacy. Baloyi further stated that the kingdom has sought to engage amicably with Professor Maluleke and has also solicited the intervention of the State through the Minister of Higher Education and the highest office of the land. 'The university approached the Department of Higher Education and Training to obtain the necessary permission and approval as per the provisions of the Higher Education Act 101 of 1997. 'In response thereto, on February 26, 2020, the department requested the university to conduct a market feasibility study before it could endorse the request… It was in this context that the market study was conducted. 'In pursuance of this decision, on May 20, 2021, the MOU was concluded between the parties to give effect to the decision taken by the university to establish the University Campus in Sekhukhune subject to compliance with the requirements specified by the department,' Baloyi wrote in the letter. Baloyi has warned that if a satisfactory response is not forthcoming from Maluleke within 14 days (now less than a week), they will approach a court of law for appropriate relief. 'The Bapedi Kingdom hopes to resolve the matter amicably, but is prepared to take legal action if necessary,' Baloyi wrote. TUT spokesperson Phaphama Tshisikhawe had not yet confirmed if Maluleke had received the letter or if they were going to respond by the due date. However, in a leaked letter, Maluleke had written to the Bapedi Kingdom on May 16, appreciating the hospitality they received while visiting the kingdom during a meeting the day before. 'It was an honour and a privilege for our delegation to connect with the Bapedi Kingdom and to discuss opportunities for mutual growth… TUT is eager to continue this journey with the Bapedi Kingdom. We look forward to future engagements,' Maluleke wrote. Although it was not clear what was discussed in that meeting, a source close to the kingdom said that the meeting did not bear any fruit.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Where the voice fails, a pen takes over – The life of Denzel
Where the voice fails, a pen takes over – The life of Denzel A dream turned into an inked reality. A pen voiced out feelings that the voice knew nothing about. Meet Denzel Mabona, a 21-year-old poet, writer, and singer from the City of Coal. Denzel was born and raised in Phola, where his talents unfolded. Denzel recently published a book called 'The dark desires to the throne'. The book was inspired by a dream that Denzel had, and his love for the English language made everything possible. 'I should say, I don't just take the glory, but I give God the glory too, because when I wrote this piece, I was just writing as I am a poet, not knowing that I am also a writer,' said Denzel. According to Denzel, he had a dream one night, and he didn't want to forget about it, therefore, he chose to ink everything and believed in the power of pen and paper. The book was published in January this year, and several institutions, including Tshwane University of Technology, have reviewed the book. Denzel did not just sit and let the talents do the work for him; he also saw the need for education in his life, and he is also pursuing his studies at TUT. Another marked milestone worth Denzel's effort was winning the TUT short stories competition for the year 2024. 'I am really excited about the piece that I published,' Denzel said. It seems like Denzel does not know about the word 'enough', the young author cannot sit and fold his hands, and his voice can't help but want to make an impact on the lives of people. He is also a preacher, using his voice and knowledge to touch lives. Denzel's journey can be an inspiration to numbers. His consistency, dedication, love, and courage proved that talents can unlock other talents. The author is looking forward to flying the Mpumalanga flag in the creative industry. Breaking news at your fingertips … Follow WITBANK NEWS on our website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or TikTok Chat to us: info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
27-05-2025
- IOL News
The digital divide's dark side: cybersecurity in African higher education
Educational institutions have fallen prey to social engineering and spoofing attacks, says the writer. The digital revolution is transforming African education, with universities embracing online learning and digital systems. However, this progress brings a crucial challenge: cybersecurity. Are African higher education institutions (HEIs) prepared for the escalating cyber threats? The Growing Threat Landscape African HEIs are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals. Microsoft's Cyber Signals report highlights education as the third most targeted sector globally, with Africa being a particularly vulnerable region. Incidents like the theft of sensitive data at Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the hacking of a master's degree platform at Abdelmalek Essaadi University in Morocco demonstrate the reality of these threats. Several factors contribute to HEI vulnerability. Universities hold vast amounts of sensitive data, including student records, research, and intellectual property. Their open nature, with diverse users and international collaborations, creates weaknesses, especially in email systems. Limited resources, legacy systems, and a lack of awareness further exacerbate these issues. Examples of Cyber Threats in African Education Educational institutions have fallen prey to social engineering and spoofing attacks. For example, universities in Mpumalanga and schools in the Eastern Cape have been notably victimised by cybercriminals, using link-based ransomware attacks, with some institutions being locked out of their data for over a year.
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: A flailing and bobbing rocket, Bayanda Walaza is on the rise
This season, 19-year-old Walaza has already secured a gold medal at the World Relays and twice broken the SA junior 100m record. Bayanda Walaza in action for Tshwane University of Technology at the USSA national student championships in Pretoria earlier this month. Picture: Cecilia van Bers/Gallo Images When I first saw Bayanda Walaza run, my initial thought was 'this kid isn't gonna make it'. His raw talent was clear, but in every other way, he was all wrong. When Walaza hits top speed, his arms start flailing and his head begins bobbing, and he doesn't display anything you want to see in a sprinter. But one thing I've learned from watching Walaza run is that technique can be deceptive. The 19-year-old prodigy is super quick out the blocks, and when he hits his stride he is bizarrely efficient. Last season he won a historic 100m/200m double at the World U20 Championships and helped the SA 4x100m relay team earn the silver medal at the Paris Olympics. Future star? However, raw talent only takes an athlete so far, and the reality is that most junior stars don't make it at senior level. So coming into the 2025 season, I expected Walaza to hit a plateau and ultimately vanish into obscurity, as so many do. Oh how glad I am, at least on this occasion, to have been proved wrong. Opting not to fiddle too much with Walaza's style, his coach Thabo Matebedi seems to have made a wise decision by allowing him to run naturally. If Walaza was great last year, this season he has been spectacular. Superb season thus far Already in 2025, he has formed part of the quartet who won gold in the 4x100m final at the World Athletics Relays, and he has twice broken the SA junior 100m record, lowering the mark to 9.94 in Zagreb at the weekend (just 0.05 outside the world U20 record). It might seem premature to suggest he could be the next global sprinting superstar, but Walaza's early progress has been impressive, and he is remarkably consistent. Both a polite young man and a ball of raging energy, he also has the character to become a crowd favourite across the world, and he could be a wonderful ambassador for our country. How he does it, with flailing arms and a bobbing head, is far less important than what he does, and Walaza already has the medals and records to show he has what it takes.
IOL News
25-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Higher Education Department responds to TUT students' NSFAS funding crisis
Students at the Tshwane University of Technology are calling on the Department of Higher Education and Training and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to resolve the issue of delayed funding. Image: Phil Magakoe/Independent Newspapers The Department of Higher Education and Training and National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have acknowledged students' struggles to access funding, attributing the problem to application discrepancies, late registration confirmations and budget constraints. This follows last week's march by students at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), demanding immediate intervention from the department and NSFAS regarding delayed funding. The students claimed that due to the delayed funding, they were forced to attend classes on empty stomachs, while some faced eviction from their residences for not being able to make payments. In a joint statement, the department and NSFAS said some students from universities who applied during the TVET application cycle have experienced difficulties with their registration status due to errors encountered during the application process. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Certain students, whose registration statuses were only confirmed after the official registration deadline, are currently facing delays in accessing funding support,' they said. They explained that students whose appeals have been approved are experiencing funding shortfalls due to limited remaining budgets, impacting their ability to cover registration and related costs. 'Both the department and NSFAS are actively collaborating to address these challenges. Efforts include reviewing applications from students who applied during the TVET application cycle, providing funding for students whose registration was submitted late, and exploring options to allocate additional resources to support students with approved appeals,' they said. They further said institutions are also being encouraged to assist students in resolving outstanding issues promptly. 'We remain committed to ensuring that all eligible students have access to the funding necessary to continue their studies without undue disruption. We appreciate the patience and understanding of students and stakeholders as we work diligently to resolve these issues swiftly,' they said. The students accused NSFAS of delaying funding to pay for residences with some facing eviction from their landlords. They also claimed they are forced to attend classes on an empty stomach as they are unable to afford groceries due to delayed funding. The students submitted a memorandum of grievances to the department detailing how delayed NSFAS payments are affecting their daily lives. Talifhani Tshithavhana, Student Representative Council (SRC) treasurer from Soshanguve campus, said the injustices faced by TUT students are a widespread issue affecting students across all institutions. 'We have students sitting in their rooms right now without anything. Most of them are chased out of student residences because NSFAS delayed the disbursement of funds to pay for them so that they can stay there,' he said. He called for students to boycott classes and exams until the NSFAS issue is resolved. 'How are you going to focus and how are you going to write examinations when you have nothing in your stomach? It is nonsense to have students attending classes when they haven't eaten anything,' he said. Kagiso Mabisane, SRC secretary of TUT Arts, Arcadia, and Pretoria, said NSFAS should treat students equally, regardless of whether they are from a TVET or university.
