VUT appoints a new Director for Student Life and Governance
By: Qhawekazi Memani- 05 April 2024
Following a nationwide search, the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) has appointed Mr Musa Mpanza as Director for Student Life and Governance, effective from April 2024.
Born in the kwaMthethwa area just outside Empangeni in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) but grew up in Gingindlovu in the north of KZN, Mpanza brings with him the much-needed experience within the realm of student life. Prior to joining VUT, he was attached to Stellenbosch University’s Tygerberg Campus where he served as a coordinator: Student Governance within the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Without giving much details on his plans for the direction of his portfolio, he says the primary focus will be on leadership development and training. He also states that, along with his team, they will aim to strengthen VUT’s external relations and memberships with key bodies such as the National Association for Student Development Professionals (NASDEV), South African Association for Senior Student Affairs Professionals (SAASSAP), and for student leaders, the South African Union of Students (SAUS). He adds that additionally, both staff and students would benefit from membership in the African Student Leaders Network (ASLN).
“These strategic memberships and affiliations are important in ensuring alignment with global best practices in higher education,” he emphasises, adding that institutions develop students for a global village.
Mpanza further explains, at this juncture, they are assessing the current offerings and contrasting them against the challenges that student leaders face. “After that, we will be in a much better position to communicate our programs, designed for a transformative student experience. We will ensure that our co-curricular programs have learning objectives and outcomes that must be achieved, leading to experiential learning. Long-term programs often require consultations and policy reviews,” he said.
Driven by a belief in the power of student leadership to effect positive change, Mr Mpanza is committed to addressing the challenges faced by the student community. “I believe in student leadership that is willing to work tirelessly to solve fellow students’ challenges,”
Reflecting on his journey, Mpanza remarked, “I was born in the heart of KZN, but my journey has taken me far beyond its borders.” His path to higher education was not paved with gold; rather, it was marked by financial struggles that threatened to derail his ambitions. However, armed with determination and supported by the kindness of others, Musa set forth on a path that would ultimately shape his destiny.
“After completing my matric in 2001, I set my sights on the University of Zululand (UNIZULU),” Musa recounts. With only R800 in his pocket, a gift from his father who worked as a truck driver, Musa embarked on a journey of hope and possibility. It was during this time that he encountered a guiding light in the form of Thembi Bukako, then SRC President at UNIZULU. Through her assistance, Mr Mpanza’s dream of higher education became a reality, highlighting the profound impact of student leadership on the lives of those they serve.
Mr Mpanza’s journey at UNIZULU was not just one of academic pursuit, but also of personal growth and leadership development. In 2014, he returned to UNIZULU to pursue a BA Hons degree, where he played a pivotal role in revitalizing the Communication Science society. “I truly understand what good student leadership can do to transform lives,” Musa asserts, reflecting on his experiences.
As Mr Mpanza’s journey continued, he found himself at the intersection of academia and governance, serving as the Societies Administrator at UNIZULU while pursuing a Masters’ degree at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
An avid reader, he says he cannot even remember how many novels and leadership books he has bought. “At the end of March 2024, on my way to join VUT, I bought a book titled ‘Mirrors of Greatness: Churchill and the Leaders who shaped him’ by David Reynolds, “he said.
As Mr Mpanza looks to the future, he draws inspiration from the words of Chief Albert Luthuli and President Thabo Mbeki, who wrote the prologue to Luthuli’s book “Let My People Go.” “But to act, that each tomorrow finds us further than today,” he quotes, embodying a spirit of relentless pursuit and unwavering commitment to progress.
VUT welcomes Mr Mpanza and wishes him success in his new portfolio.