By Nhlawulo Vision Chauke
Excellence took centre stage at the annual Chancellor’s Awards ceremony honouring the University’s top students – the Magnificent Seven – who achieved the highest academic distinctions in each of the University’s seven faculties.
TUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Tinyiko Maluleke.
The ceremony, held on 8 November 2025, also marked the fifth anniversary of the Chancellor’s Awards, an initiative conceptualised during the 2020/2021 Covid-19 restrictions when physical graduations were suspended. The awards – held at The Blades, north-east of Pretoria – were created to honour the University’s top academic achievers alongside their families and academic leaders.
Zilke Heyns, Rose Matole, Mpho Masindi Mudau, Andile Wiseman Nkalanga, Reakantse Shila and Mpho Ndou were present to receive their accolades, while Asiphile Mabeka joined the celebrations in spirit due to prior commitments.
In her opening and welcome, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Digital Transformation Dr Emily Mabote highlighted that the awards not only recognise individual brilliance, but also underscore the collective impact of the TUT community in advancing education, research and societal development.
“The event encourages awardees to give back to the University and society through mentorship, sharing their expertise, or contributing to institutional growth, reinforcing TUT’s commitment to nurturing excellence, fostering innovation and inspiring meaningful change,” she said.
TUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Tinyiko Maluleke delivered a keynote address that was as poetic as it was profound. Drawing from an age-old parable of a blind, wise woman and the fragile bird placed in her hands, he reminded the audience that the future rests with all of us.
Whether that bird symbolises education, opportunity or the aspirations carried by young people from Bethlehem to Mbuzini, Thohoyandou, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Ga-Sekororo, the message rang clear: we dare not let it die.
From this powerful metaphor, Prof Maluleke celebrated the journeys of the Magnificent Seven, whose achievements embody what becomes possible when talent, resilience and opportunity intersect. Their stories, he noted, prove that not only can the bird live it can soar.
Dr Eric Pule, Director of the Advancement and Partnerships Office, praised the award recipients for continuously raising the academic bar and inspiring the broader university community.
“As a University, we pride ourselves in having students deeply dedicated to their academic work. Let us applaud not only those who walk across the stage but also the mentors, tutors, lecturers, families, friends and neighbours who walked alongside them,” he said.
Delivering the message of support, TUT alumnus Mandla Magwaza, who is the Chief Operating Officer: ESG Sustainability Agency and a 2025 Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans Award Winner, shared his optimism for the future, saying he saw in this cohort “a generation that will make it to the Mail & Guardian Top 200 and lead the G20. “You have carried the hopes of your families, your communities, your mentors and yourselves, and you’ve delivered with excellence,” he said.
Mandla Magwaza, Chief Operating Officer: ESG Sustainability Agency and a 2025 Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans Award Winner.
Dr Emily Mabote, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Digital Transformation.
Responding on behalf of the recipients, Zilke Heyns, the top achiever in the Faculty of Science, encouraged students who may be doubting themselves. “You don’t need to start in a big city to have big dreams. The smallest beginnings can lead to the most extraordinary destinies.
To my fellow recipients, our bird and our destinies are in our hands let’s go live our purpose,” said Heyns.
Closing the ceremony, Andile Wiseman Nkalanga of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology reflected on the powerful blend of disciplines represented in the room. He emphasised the need to better harness and manage these diverse talents to drive success across all professional fields.
From left: Chancellor’s Awards recipients: Reakantse Shila, Zilke Heyns, Rose Matole, Mpho Masindi Mudau, Mpho Ndou and Andile Wiseman Nkalanga.