by Phaphama Tshisikhawe

Featuring a powerful tribute by Prof Pitika Ntuli to the legacy of renowned photojournalist, Dr Sam Nzima, the 5th Annual Dr Sam Nzima Memorial Lecture was hosted at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) Mbombela Campus on 16 June 2025. 

Organised in partnership with the Sam Nzima Foundation, the event drew dignitaries, including members of the Nzima and Mazibuko Royal Houses from eSwatini and South Africa. The highlight was a compelling keynote address by Prof Pitika Ntuli, a celebrated South African sculptor, poet, academic and anti-apartheid activist, who honoured Nzima’s iconic contribution to the anti-apartheid struggle.

Prof Pitika Ntuli

Prof Ntuli’s powerful address

Prof Pitika Ntuli, who received a Doctor of Language Practice (honoris causa) from TUT in 2024's keynote reflected on the 49 years since the Soweto Uprising. Prof Ntuli explored South Africa’s democratic journey, questioning whether there is more to celebrate or regret. He also paid tribute to Dr Nzima, saying: “Sam Nzima didn’t just take a photo; he exposed a wound and challenged the world to speak out.”

A former exile who spent 32 years in Swaziland and the UK after imprisonment for his activism, Prof Ntuli drew parallels between his own experiences and Nzima’s sacrifices. He highlighted the revolutionary power of art, likening Dr Nzima’s photograph to his own sculptures, such as the “anti-monument” to the Silverton Three in Soweto, made from found objects to narrate stories of resistance.

Prof Ntuli further described it as capturing “the dust, the sweat, the teargas, the blood and the tears” of 16 June 1976. The image’s global impact came at a steep cost, as Dr Nzima was forced to abandon photojournalism and retreat to Lilydale, Mpumalanga, while Mbuyisa Makhubu fled into exile, never to return.

Thulani Nzima, son of Dr Nzima and Chairperson of the Sam Nzima Foundation, commented: “The Hector Pieterson picture became a rallying point for the international community and liberation movements in their fight against the apartheid government.”

Thulani Nzima, son of Dr Nzima and Chairperson of the Sam Nzima Foundation

Dr Sam Nzima, who passed away in 2018, is remembered for his evocative 1976 photograph of 12-year-old Hector Pieterson, fatally wounded during the Soweto Uprising. The image, capturing Makhubu carrying the lifeless body of Hector alongside a distraught Antoinette Sithole, became a global symbol of apartheid’s brutality. 

The 5th Annual Dr Sam Nzima Memorial Lecture, elevated by Prof Ntuli’s keynote, inspired attendees to honour South Africa’s history while advocating for a just future. As Prof Ntuli’s words resonated across the TUT Mbombela Campus, they underscored the enduring power of Nzima’s photograph and the ongoing fight for equality.

The lecture series honours Dr Nzima’s courage and the sacrifices of those who fought for South Africa’s democracy. “It reminds us that democracy came at a huge price. Lives were lost and heroes like Sam Nzima must never be forgotten,” Nzima said.

The lecture was part of a weekend of events, including the Sam Nzima Charity Golf Day and TUT’s netball and soccer semi-finals on 15 June. Held on Youth Day, the lecture brought together community members, academics and dignitaries to reflect on South Africa’s past and future.

Attendees came in numbers to honour the enduring legacy of Dr Sam Nzima.

Prof Tinyiko Maluleke welcomed attendees at the 5th Dr Sam Nzima Memorial lecture.

by Reatlegile Ratlagane

On 8 June 2025, the 27-year-old Tshwane University of Technology Advance Diploma student in Internal Auditing, Humphery Mohajane, completed his second Comrades Marathon in 11:08:15, successfully beating the marathon’s cut-off time of 11.20.00 and proving that his disability does not hinder him from achieving his goals. 

by Phaphama Tshisikhawe

In a landmark achievement, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) secured the esteemed DSTI-NRF Co-Funded Research Chair in Applied Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence. This recognition firmly positions TUT as a global frontrunner in advanced research and technological innovation.

Led by Prof Karim Djouani under the French South African Institute of Technology (F’SATI) and supported by Prof Anish Kurien, F’SATI Director and Acting Director of TUT’s AI Hub, this Research Chair positions TUT at the forefront of transformative AI and digital innovation.

Prof Karim Djouani

“This prestigious Chair is a defining moment for TUT, reflecting our dedication to advancing applied machine learning and AI. It empowers us to pioneer solutions for global challenges, reinforcing TUT’s leadership in AI research and digital transformation,” said Prof Djouani. 

Prof Kurien echoed this sentiment: “Securing this Chair demonstrates TUT’s dedication to bold, forward-thinking AI research with both local relevance and global impact.”

The achievement, driven by TUT’s visionary leadership, stems from a strategic partnership with the National Research Foundation (NRF) and substantial funding from TUT’s Council. Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement, played an important role in turning this vision into reality.

“This is not a mere accolade – it is proof of what a united, passionate team can achieve. Following the launch of our AI Hub in 2023, this Chair strengthens our position as a digitally advanced University leading in AI innovation,” said Dr Papu-Zamxaka. “

This milestone enhances TUT’s global research profile while also opening new pathways for collaboration, discovery and AI-driven solutions with lasting societal impact.

By Mosima Rafapa

An important five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and Steve Biko Academic Hospital (SBAH) will ensure the re-establishment of a Clinical Engineering training centre, specifically for TUT students, at SBAH. Signed on 12 June 2025, this agreement will guarantee Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities at the hospital’s training facility for eligible Clinical Engineering students from TUT’s Department of Electrical Engineering (DEE), Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment (FEBE). 

Creating awareness of critical social issues such as Gender-Based Violence and the importance of Mental and Emotional Health, especially during trying times like exams, were at the heart of a fun-filled Youth Day celebration event on 13 June, hosted by the Head of Library and Information Services (LIS) Jacomi Cathro and her team, at the Tshwane University of Technology’s eMalahleni Campus.

by Reatlegile Ratlagane

Recently appointed UNESCO Chairholder in African Integration and Innovation, Prof Mulatu Zerihun, Head of the Tshwane University of Technology’s Department of Economics, makes a significant societal impact through his extensive research and contributions to economic and social development across the continent.

by Kgothatso Monono

The 2024 graduating cohort of IIE Rosebank College enjoyed an unforgettable send-off on Thursday, 5 June 2025, during a prestigious graduation ceremony held at the State Theatre in Pretoria. A powerful and inspirational keynote address delivered by Dr Tshimangadzo Tshilongamulenzhe, senior lecturer from the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FoICT) was one of the undisputed highlights of the event.

by Kgothatso Monono

A group of passionate Girls in Tech students from the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology (FoICT) at the Tshwane University of Technology's (TUT) coding journey got a major boost when they attended the recent Entelect Coding Workshop, hosted in partnership with Girl Code at Entelect’s Melrose Arch offices.

By Polelo Madisha

From humble beginnings at the heart of Tshwane University of Technology’s campus radio, to commanding the national stage, Baphelile Sambo, a former TUT FM presenter and proud TUT alumna, is soaring as one of South Africa’s most dynamic broadcast producers.

By Polelo Madisha

TUT FM has received five nominations at the upcoming 2025 Community Radio Awards. This exciting milestone underscores the station’s growing influence and excellence in broadcasting, content creation and talent.

First published in Daily Maverick, 9 June 2025

by Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, TUT Vice-Chancellor and Principal

This book is an elegy to a beloved political party and a failing, if not failed state. Mathews Phosa is devastating in his truthfulness and stunning in his attempt to be generous to friend and foe alike.

by Mosima Rafapa

Two final-year Bachelor of Architecture students from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Damian Ciaglia and Dineo Mogane, have won the national Saint-Gobain Architecture Student Contest and will represent South Africa on the international stage in Nord-Isère, France, from 16 to 18 June 2025.